Starting with a realistic quark model of nucleon structure, in which quarks are strongly correlated with one another within the nucleon, the light nuclei H-2, H-3, He-3, and He-4 can be constructed by assuming similar correlations with the quarks in neighboring nucleons. Importance of color loops created owing to the closure of quark ends of adjacent nucleons is emphasized. Applying the model to larger nucleon systems reveals the emergence of symmetries at the nuclear level that are isomorphic with those known from the independent-particle (shell) model.
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