In physics, mirror nuclei are a pair of isobars of two different elements where the number of protons of isobar one (Z 1) equals the number of neutrons of isobar two (N 2) and the number of protons of isotope two (Z 2) equals the number of neutrons in isotope one (N 1); in short: Z 1 = N 2 and Z 2 = N 1. This implies that the mass numbers of the isotopes are the same: N 1 + Z 1 = N 2 + Z 2.