= Nuclear pairing
Correlations that favor pairs of like <nucleons> coupled to zero total <angular momentum> in the simplest spherical picture. They help explain why an unpaired <nucleon> often dominates an odd nucleus's <spin>, and why neighboring <nuclear separation energies> show an odd-even staggering. <Nuclear pairing> belongs to the residual-interaction physics beyond merely filling independent <energy levels>. Mixing different occupations and deformation can also be necessary; the closed-core picture is most useful near suitable <nuclear shell closures>.
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