Breakup reactions of halo nuclei

Different reaction mechanisms of breakup reactions are discussed and the microscopic reaction model for two-neutron halo dissociation is presented. Some examples of halo breakup in reactions with electrons, nucleons, and nuclei are given.     

Relating breakup and incomplete fusion of weakly bound nuclei through a classical trajectory model with stochastic breakup

A classical dynamical model that treats breakup stochastically is presented for low energy reactions of weakly bound nuclei. The three-dimensional model allows a consistent calculation of breakup, incomplete, and complete fusion cross sections. The model is assessed by comparing the breakup observables with continuum discretized coupled-channel quantum mechanical predictions, which are found to be in reasonable agreement. Through the model, it is demonstrated that the breakup probability of the projectile as a function of its distance from the target is of primary importance for understanding complete and incomplete fusion at energies near the Coulomb barrier.     

Breakup reactions of two-neutron halo nuclei

Investigation of reactions initiated in collisions of beams of unstable nuclei with nuclear targets has resulted in the discovery of a new type of nuclear structure, the halo, in some light nuclei at the boundary of nucleon stability. A survey of different reactions with two-neutron halo nuclei and their use for gaining information on the structure of exotic nuclei is presented. Kinematically complete breakup reactions, which provide the possibility of obtaining quite reliable information on the structure of the ground state and the continuum of nuclei, are considered in detail. The microscopic four-body model of breakup reactions for two-neutron halo nuclei with account of characteristic specific features of their structure is formulated. The model is based on the distorted wave approximation and is applicable for analysis of low excitations of the continuum near the breakup threshold, the region most sensitive to manifestation of specific features of the halo structure. The described approach enables the calculation of all observables of kinematically complete experiments in nucleus-nucleus collisions at intermediate energies for which one-step processes dominate, and creates the basis for the spectroscopy of continua via successive analysis of various correlation cross sections available in kinematically complete experiments.     

Classical simulations of heavy-ion fusion reactions and weakly-bound projectile breakup reactions

Heavy-ion collision simulations in various classical models are discussed. Heavy-ion reactions with spherical and deformed nuclei are simulated in a classical rigid-body dynamics (CRBD) model which takes into account the reorientation of the deformed projectile. It is found that the barrier parameters not only on the initial orientations of the deformed nucleus, but also on the collision energy and the moment of inertia of the deformed nucleus. Maximum reorientation effect occurs at near- and below-barrier energies for light deformed nuclei. Calculated fusion cross-sections for ²⁴Mg + ²⁰⁸Pb reaction are compared with a static-barrier-penetration model (SBPM) calculation to see the effect of reorientation. Heavy-ion reactions are also simulated in a 3-stage classical molecular dynamics (3S-CMD) model in which the rigid-body constraints are relaxed when the two nuclei are close to the barrier thus, taking into account all the rotational and vibrational degrees of freedom in the same calculation. This model is extended to simulate heavy-ion reactions such as⁶Li + ²⁰⁹Bi involving the weakly-bound projectile considered as a weakly-bound cluster of deuteron and ⁴He nuclei, thus, simulating a 3-body system in 3S-CMD model. All the essential features of breakup reactions, such as complete fusion, incomplete fusion, no-capture breakup and scattering are demonstrated.     

Neutron Halo Structure at the Limit of Stability Probed by Breakup Reactions

Atomic nuclei along the neutron drip line are investigated experimentally by breakup reactions of the rare isotope beams. Such exotic nuclei often show the neutron halo structure, which is the main focus of this paper. Characteristic features of the Coulomb and nuclear breakup at intermediate to high incident energies are described. Then, recent experimental results on halo nuclei, mainly on ³¹Ne, obtained at the new-generation RI-beam facility, RIBF (RI Beam factory) at RIKEN, are presented. Perspectives for the breakup experiments using the new facility SAMURAI at RIBF ara also discussed.     

CDCC Approaches and Roles of Closed Channels in d-Nucleus Reactions

The effect of deuteron breakup in d-nucleus reaction is treated with the continuum discretized coupled channels (CDCC) approach, and the effects on the total reaction cross sections and elastic scattering angular distributions are studied by comparing the calculations of CDCC and spherical optical model with our global deuteron optical potential [Phys. Rev. C 73 (2006) 054605] below 200 MeV, for target nuclei ranging from ¹²C to ²⁰⁸Pb. The contributions from the closed channels to the total reaction and breakup cross sections, and angular distributions of elastic scattering are also seriously discussed.     

Self-similar patterns of subsatellites formation at the capillary breakup of viscous jets

Formation of subsatellites at the capillary breakup of viscous liquid jets has been studied. The proposed analytical model qualitatively describes subsatellites formation. The obtained patterns for the formation of subsatellites’ nuclei and dynamics of their separation from a jet well agree with the results of numerical modeling.     

Breakup of light nuclei within the modified distorted wave Born approximation

Reactions of the elastic breakup of loosely bound light nuclei are investigated in the scope of the distorted wave Born approximation, with deuterium breakup reactions used as an example. Some drawbacks of this approximation in calculating the breakup amplitude in the prior form are shown and their causes analyzed. We propose eliminating the drawbacks by employing a modified nucleus-nucleus potential in calculating the distorted wave functions of scattering in the exit reaction channel. The calculations are compared to the experimental data.     

Study of the structure of unstable nuclei through the reaction experiments

Along with the development of the radioactive nuclear beam facility, the study of the structure of unstable nuclei has progressed rapidly over the last few decades. Due to the weakly binding property, the structure information of the unstable nuclei comes primarily from the scattering or reaction experiments. Therefore it would be very important to understand clearly the reaction mechanism involved in the experiment. We outlined here the major reaction mechanisms which are adequate to the study of unstable nuclei, with the focus on the new phenomena and methods in comparison with those with traditional stable nucleus beam. Especially emphasized are the breakup and knockout reactions, developed as accurate tools for spectroscopy investigation into the nuclear structure with low intensity secondary beam. Couplings of the breakup channel to the elastic scattering and the fusion and transfer reactions are also reviewed.     

Are There Good Probes for the Di-Neutron Correlation in Light Neutron-Rich Nuclei?

The di-neutron correlation is a spatial correlation with which two valence neutrons are located at a similar position inside a nucleus. We discuss possible experimental probes for the di-neutron correlation. This includes the Coulomb breakup and the pair transfer reactions of neutron-rich nuclei, and the direct two-neutron decays of nuclei beyond the neutron drip-line.     

Quasi-elastic scattering of the proton drip line nucleus 17F on 12C at 60 MeV

The quasi-elastic scattering angular distribution of the proton drip line nucleus ¹⁷F on a ¹²C target was measured at 60 MeV. The experimental data have been compared with the theoretical analysis based onto optical model and continuum discretized coupled channels (CDCC). The couplings between breakup and elastic scattering channels, and between inelastic and elastic scattering channels resulted very weak. In order to explore the breakup effects the total reaction cross-section was deduced from the angular distribution of the quasi-elastic scattering data, and then compared with the existing data for the other weakly and tightly bound nuclei on ¹²C target using a universal function. From this comparison, we concluded that the breakup effect is not important for weakly bound projectiles on the light target as obtained also with the CDCC analysis.     

Calculation of Double—Differential Cross Sections of n＋^7Li Reactions Below 20 MeV

A new reaction model for light nuclei is proposed to analyze the measured data,especially for analysis of the double-differential cross sections of the outgoing particles.Many channels arc opened in the n + 7Li reaction below En＜ 20 MeV.The reaction mechanism is very complex,beside the sequential emissions there are also three-body breakup processes.Because of a strong recoil effect of light nucleus reactions,the energy balance is strictly taken into account.The comparisons of the calculated results with the double-differential measurements indicate that the model calculations are successful for the total outgoing neutrons.     

Breakup process for 100 MeV 3He interacting with 165Ho and 166, 167Er nuclei

The projectile breakup process for 100 MeV ³He interacting with ¹⁶⁵Ho and ^{166, 167}Er nuclei was studied by measuring singles and coincidence spectra of the breakup fragments and following γ-rays. By comparing the data of the ³He-induced reaction with those of the α-induced reaction, the breakup process was found to make a large contribution to the charged-particle spectra of the ³He-induced reaction. Contributions of the elastic breakup, inelastic breakup, and breakup fusion processes were deduced individually from the particle-γ coincidence measurements.     

Diffractive dissociation of deuterons and exotic nuclei <Superscript>6</Superscript>He and <Superscript>19</Superscript>C

A theory is developed for describing the diffractive dissociation of loosely bound two-cluster nuclei in the nuclear and Coulomb fields of nuclei having a diffuse boundary. The energy spectra of charged products of the breakup of ²H, ⁶He, and ¹⁹C nuclei are calculated on the basis of the proposed approach, and the results are found to be rather sensitive to nuclear structure. For some angles of neutron and proton emission from the reaction ¹²C(d, np)¹²C, the calculated cross sections are in satisfactory agreement with the results of kinematically complete experiments performed recently to study the breakup of intermediate-energy deuterons.     

Microscopic description of diffractive deuteron breakup by <Superscript>3</Superscript>He nuclei

A microscopic formalism for describing observed cross sections for deuteron breakup by threenucleon nuclei was developed on the basis of the diffraction nuclear model. A general formula that describes the amplitude for the reaction ²H(³He, ³Hep)n and which involves only one adjustable parameter was obtained by using expansions of the integrands involved in terms of a Gaussian basis. This formula was used to analyze experimental data on the exclusive cross sections for deuteron breakup by ³He nuclei at the projectile energy of 89.4MeV. The importance of employing, in calculations, a deuteron wave function that has a correct asymptotic behavior at large nucleon–nucleon distances was demonstrated.     

Fusion suppression and sub-barrier breakup of weakly bound nuclei

The mechanism for the large suppression of complete fusion in the 9Be+208Pb reaction has been investigated through measurement of sub-barrier breakup of 9Be. Excluding breakup through the 8Be ground state, whose lifetime is too long, a prompt breakup component remains, having sufficient probability to explain the observed suppression of complete fusion. This appears to be associated with interactions at the nuclear surface. The fusion suppression is predicted to be almost proportional to the charge of the target nucleus, making it most significant in reactions with heavy nuclei.     

Influence of breakup on elastic and α-production channels in the ~6Li+~(116)Sn reaction

The effects of breakup reactions on elastic and α-production channels for the ~6Li+~(116)Sn system have been investigated at energies below and near the Coulomb barrier. The angular distributions of α-particle production differential cross sections have been obtained at several projectile energies between 22 and 40 MeV. The measured breakup α-particle differential cross sections and elastic scattering angular distributions have been compared with the predictions of continuum-discretized coupled channels(CDCC) calculations. The influence of breakup coupling has also been investigated by extracting dynamic polarization potentials(DPP) from the CDCC calculations. From the predictions of CDCC calculations the relative importance of the nuclear, Coulomb, and total breakup contributions have also been investigated. The nuclear breakup couplings are observed to play an important role in comparison to the Coulomb breakup for the direct breakup mechanisms associated in the reaction of ~6Li projectile with ~(116)Sn target nuclei. The influence of strong nuclear breakup coupling exhibits suppression in the Coulomb-nuclear interference peak. The direct breakup cross sections from the CDCC calculations under-predict the measured α-particle differential cross sections at all energies. This suggests that the measured α particles may also have contributions from other possible breakup reaction channels.     

Four-body distorted-wave theory for halo excitations in peripheral fragmentation reactions

A microscopic approach to breakup into the low-energy continuum of Borromean two-neutron-halo nuclei is developed by quantum mechanically taking into account both Coulomb and nuclear dissociation. The crucial role of both elastic and inelastic fragmentation is demonstrated for ⁶He breakup on C and Pb targets at intermediate energies in kinematically complete experiments. For the first time, recent GSI experimental data are analyzed quantitatively, and a rich and complex interplay of reaction mechanisms and low-lying halo excitations is revealed.     

The breakup of 16O into He: An event-by-event study of nucleus-nucleus collisions at 75, 175 and 2000 MeV/A

We present an event-by-event study of the breakup of the ¹⁶O in ¹⁶O + emulsion nucleus interactions at 75, 175 and 2000 MeV/A. The events are categorized according to their multiplicity of projectile He nuclei. The multiplicity depends on the degree of target destruction. Although the fragmentation model describes the gross features of inclusive He spectra, an event-by-event study reveals deviations from the model. The momenta of the He nuclei, emitted from the projectile, depend on helium multiplicity and the breakup properties of the target nucleus. The probability that the ¹⁶O projectile breaks up into multiple He fragments is larger at 75 MeV/A than at 2000 MeV/A. At 75 MeV/A the mean velocity of projectile He is on the average 0.06c below the projectile velocity. This recoil velocity depends on the target nucleus destruction also for the most peripheral collisions.