The lead nucleus as a miniature surrogate for a neutron star

The nucleus of ²⁰⁸Pb, a system 18 orders of magnitude smaller and 55 orders of magnitude lighter than a neutron star, may be used as a miniature surrogate to establish important correlations between its neutron skin and several neutron-star properties. Indeed, models with a thicker neutron skin in ²⁰⁸Pb generate larger neutron stars that have a lower liquid-to-solid transition density. Further, we illustrate how the correlation between the neutron skin in ²⁰⁸Pb and the radius of a 1.4 solar-mass neutron star may be used to place important constraints on the equation of state of neutron-rich matter and how it may help elucidate the existence of a phase transition at the core of the star.     

A possible experimental observable for the determination of neutron skin thickness

The dependence between neutron skin thickness and neutron abrasion cross section （σnabr） for neutron-rich nuclei is investigated within the framework of the statistical abrasion ablation model. Assuming that the density distributions for proton and neutron are of Fermi-type, and adjusting the diffuseness parameter of neutron density distribution in the droplet model, we find out the good linear correlation between the neutron skin thickness and the abrasion cross section σnabr for neutron-rich nuclei. The uncertainty of neutron skin thickness determined from σnabr is very small. It is suggested that σnabr can be used as a new experimental observable to extract the neutron skin thickness for neutronrich nucleus. The scaling behaviours between neutron skin thickness and σnabr, separately, for isotopes of ^26-35Na, ^44-56Ar, ^48-60Ca, ^67-78Ni are also investigated.     

Links between heavy ion and astrophysics

Heavy-ion experiments provide important data to test astrophysical models. The high-density equation of state can be probed in HI collisions and applied to the hot protoneutron star formed in core collapse supernovae. The parity radius experiment (PREX) aims to accurately measure the neutron radius of ²⁰⁸Pb with parity-violating electron scattering. This determines the pressure of neutron-rich matter and the density dependence of the symmetry energy. Competition between nuclear attraction and Coulomb repulsion can form exotic shapes called nuclear pasta in neutron star crusts and supernovae. This competition can be probed with multifragmentation HI reactions. We use large-scale semiclassical simulations to study nonuniform neutron-rich matter in supernovae. We find that the Coulomb interactions in astrophysical systems suppress density fluctuations. As a result, there is no first-order liquid-vapor phase transition. Finally, the virial expansion for low-density matter shows that the nuclear vapor phase is complex with significant concentrations of alpha particles and other light nuclei in addition to free nucleons.     

A new probe of neutron skin thickness

The correlation between neutron-to-proton yield ratio (R<,n p>) and neutron skin thickness (δ<,n p>) in neutron-rich projectile induced reactions is investigated within the framework of the Isospin-Dependent Quantum Molecular Dynamics (IQMD) model. The density distribution of the Droplet model is embedded in the initialization of the neutron and proton densities in the present IQMD model. By adjusting the diffuseness parameter of neutron density in the Droplet model for the projectile, the relationship between the neutron skin thickness and the corresponding R<,n p> is obtained. The results show strong linear correlation between R<,n p> and δ<,n p> for neutron-rich Ca and Ni isotopes. It is suggested that R<,n p> may be used as an experimental observable to extract δ<,n p> for neutron-rich nuclei, which is very interesting in the study of the nuclear structure of exotic nuclei, the equation of state (EOS) of asymmetric nuclear matter and neutron-rich matter in astrophysics, etc.     

Nuclear symmetry energy effects in finite nuclei and neutron star

Within a relativistic mean-field model with nonlinear isoscalar–isovector coupling, we explore the possibility of constraining the density dependence of nuclear symmetry energy from a systematic study of the neutron skin thickness of finite nuclei and neutron star properties. We find the present skin data supports a rather stiff symmetry energy at subsaturation densities that corresponds to a soft symmetry energy at supranormal densities. Correlation between the skin of ²⁰⁸Pb and the neutron star masses and radii with kaon condensation has been studied. We find that ²⁰⁸Pb skin estimate suggest star radii that reveals considerable model dependence. Thus precise measurements of neutron star radii in conjunction with skin thickness of heavy nuclei could provide significant constraint on the density dependence of symmetry energy.     

Measurement of the neutron radius of 208Pb through parity violation in electron scattering

We report the first measurement of the parity-violating asymmetry A(PV) in the elastic scattering of polarized electrons from 208Pb. A(PV) is sensitive to the radius of the neutron distribution (R(n)). The result A(PV)=0.656±0.060(stat)±0.014(syst) ppm corresponds to a difference between the radii of the neutron and proton distributions R(n)-R(p)=0.33(-0.18)(+0.16) fm and provides the first electroweak observation of the neutron skin which is expected in a heavy, neutron-rich nucleus.     

Neutron Skin Thickness of Nuclei and Effective Nucleon-Nucleon Interactions

The Skyrme energy density functional is applied to study the ground state properties of a series of finite nuclei. The charge rms radii, neutron rms radii, and the neutron skin thickness for some nuclei are calculated and compared with the experimental data. The constraint on the effective interactions, especially, the density dependence of the isospin-dependent. part of Skyrme interactions is extracted by the data of neutron skin thicknesses of ^208Pb and isotopes of Sn.     

Shell model interaction between proton holes and between proton holes and neutron particles around 208Pb

An effective residual interaction between particles and holes for shell model calculations around ²⁰⁸Pb, derived from the interaction between free nucleons, is compared with the measured properties of proton-hole neutron states in ²⁰⁸Tl and the interaction between proton holes is adjusted to newly measured level energies in ²⁰⁶Hg. These interaction elements are particularly relevant for neutron-rich nuclei. The adjustment of two mixing elements reproduces the known γ-decay data in ²⁰⁸Tl. Received: 2 April 2002 / Accepted: 2 May 2002     

核物质的对称能与中子皮厚度(英文)

在现有的平均场模型中引入同位旋相关的高阶修正项．研究了核物质对称能的密度依赖性和。^208Pb的中子皮厚度。采用新提出的PK1相互作用以及NL3．S271和Z271相互作用．得到核物质饱和点对称能的范围为29-38MeV以及相应的^208Pb中子皮厚度为0．17—0.28fm．在所有相互作用中，核物质饱和点的对称能与^208Pb的中子皮厚度近似呈线性关系。After adding isospin dependent high order correction terms to existing relativistic mean field models (RMF), the density dependence of symmetry energy and the neutron skin thickness S for 208Pb are studied. Using the new effective interaction PK1, together with NL3, S271 and Z271, a range of 29—38 MeV for the symmetry energy for nuclear matter at saturation point and the corresponding neutron skin thickness S = 0.14—0.28 fm for 208Pb are obtained. For all effective interactions, a linear relation between the symmetry energy at saturation point and the neutron skin thickness for 208Pb is observed.     

原子核放射性对核对称能的约束（英文）

核对称能的密度依赖性对于原子核物理和天体物理中的许多问题很重要。基于密度依赖的结团模型,奇特的结团放射性被用来约束核对称能及其斜率的大小。在密度依赖的结团模型中,清楚地给出了结团放射性子核208Pb的中子皮大小与对称能的斜率参数L（ρ0） 之间的关联。发现从M3Y核子-核子相互作用得到的结团-208Pb 同位旋矢量势对于对称能的斜率参数L（ρ0） 非常重要。基于结团放射性实验数据和新的208Pb 的中子皮大小实验数据,成功得到对称能的斜率参数L（ρ0） 的大小。也讨论了利用质子放射性数据提取的斜率参数L（ρ0）。The density-dependence of symmetry energy is of particular importance to many problems in nuclear physics and astrophysics. Exotic cluster radioactivity is proposed to constrain the density slope of symmetry energy L(ρ0) by using the density-dependent cluster model (DDCM) where the cluster radioactivity serves as a link between the neutron skin thickness of 208Pb and the density slope L(ρ0). The isovector part of cluster-208Pb potential constructed from the M3Y nucleon-nucleon interaction is found to be very important in determining the density slope parameter L(ρ0). The correlation between the neutron skin thickness of 208Pb and the density slope parameter are obtained from cluster radioactivities around 208Pb with measured data. The constraint of L(ρ0) from proton radioactivity is also discussed.     

Properties of lead isotopes in the vicinity of the neutron drip line

On the basis of the Hartree-Fock method with Skyrme forces of the Ska, SkM*, and Sly4 type, the position of the neutron drip line and the properties of neutron-rich lead isotopes are studied with allowance for deformations. It is shown that, in extremely neutron-rich nuclei, the neutron and proton density distributions are characterized by an anomalously large deformation parameter of β ～ 0.6. Also, nuclei of superdeformed lead isotopes have anomalously large root-mean-square radii. The existence of the isotopes ^266–288Pb, which are stable to the emission of one neutron, is predicted.     

The neutron halo structure of 17B studied with the relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov theory

The properties of neutron-rich boron isotopes are studied in the relativistic continuum Hartree-Bogoliubov theory in coordinate space with NL-SH, PK1 and TM2 effective interactions. Pairing corrections are taken into account by a density dependent force of zero range. The binding energies calculated for these nuclei agree with the experimental data quite well. The neutron-rich nucleus ¹⁷B has been predicted to have a two-neutron halo structure in its ground state. The halo structure of ¹⁷B is reproduced in a self-consistent way, and this halo is shown to be formed by the valence neutron level 2_s1/2.     

Constraints on the density dependence of the symmetry energy from heavy-ion collisions

Constraints on the equation of state (EoS) for symmetric matter (equal neutron and proton numbers) have been extracted from energetic collisions of heavy ions over a range of energies. Collisions of neutron-deficient and neutron-rich heavy ions now provide initial constraints on the EoS of neutron-rich matter at subsaturation densities from isospin diffusions and neutron proton ratios. This article reviews the experimental constraints on the density dependence of symmetry energy at subsaturation density.     

Symmetry Energy, Neutron Star Crust and Neutron Skin Thickness

We analyze the correlations of the slope and curvature parameters of the symmetry energy with the neutron skin thickness of neutron-rich isotopes, and the crust-core transition density in neutron stars. The results are obtained within the microscopic Brueckner?CHartree?CFock approach, and are compared with those obtained with several Skyrme and relativistic mean field models.     

Cold neutrons trapped in external fields

The properties of inhomogeneous neutron matter are crucial to the physics of neutron-rich nuclei and the crust of neutron stars. Advances in computational techniques now allow us to accurately determine the binding energies and densities of many neutrons interacting via realistic microscopic interactions and confined in external fields. We perform calculations for different external fields and across several shells to place important constraints on inhomogeneous neutron matter, and hence the large isospin limit of the nuclear energy density functionals that are used to predict properties of heavy nuclei and neutron star crusts. We find important differences between microscopic calculations and current density functionals; in particular, the isovector gradient terms are significantly more repulsive than in traditional models, and the spin-orbit and pairing forces are comparatively weaker.     

Double neutron/proton ratio of nucleon emissions in isotopic reaction systems as a robust probe of nuclear symmetry energy

The double neutron/proton ratio of nucleon emissions taken from two reaction systems using four isotopes of the same element, namely, the neutron/proton ratio in the neutron-rich system over that in the more symmetric system, has the advantage of reducing systematically the influence of the Coulomb force and the normally poor efficiencies of detecting low energy neutrons. The double ratio thus suffers less systematic errors. Within the IBUU04 transport model the double neutron/proton ratio is shown to have about the same sensitivity to the density dependence of nuclear symmetry energy as the single neutron/proton ratio in the neutron-rich system involved. The double neutron/proton ratio is therefore more useful for further constraining the symmetry energy of neutron-rich matter.     

Production and study of heavy neutron rich nuclei formed in multi-nucleon transfer reactions

A new setup is proposed to produce and investigate heavy neutron-rich nuclei located along the neutron closed shell N = 126. This “blank spot” of the nuclear map can be reached neither in fusion–fission reactions nor in fragmentation processes widely used nowadays for the production of exotic nuclei. The present limits of the upper part of the nuclear map are very close to stability while the unexplored area of heavy neutron-rich nuclides along the neutron closed shell N = 126 is extremely important for nuclear astrophysics investigations and, in particular, for the understanding of the r-process of astrophysical nucleosynthesis. A new way was recently proposed for the production of these nuclei via low-energy multi-nucleon transfer reactions. The estimated yields of neutron-rich nuclei are found to be rather high in such reactions and several tens of new nuclides can be produced, for example, in the near-barrier collision of 136Xe with 208Pb. This setup could definitely open a new opportunity in the studies at heavy-ion facilities and will have significant impact on future experiments.     

Geometric and algebraic descriptions of a soft scissors mode

Some of the elementary properties of the scissors mode in deformed nuclei are recalled. The effect of a neutron skin on this excitation mode is investigated. It is shown, in the context of a geometric as well as an algebraic model, that the development of a neutron skin can give rise to an additional low-energy mode involving out-of-phase angular oscillations of the skin neutrons against the remaining nucleons of the core. This ‘soft’ scissors mode represents the analogue of the soft dipole mode already postulated to occur in neutron-rich nuclei.     

Properties of Zr isotopes near the neutron drip line and beyond it

The properties of neutron-rich Zr isotopes up to the neutron drip line and beyond it have been investigated on the basis of the Hartree-Fock method with the Skyrme forces (Ska, Sly4), taking into account the deformation. By the example of chains of Zr isotopes, good agreement is shown for the two-neutron separation energies and mean-square radii with the known results of Hartree-Fock-Bogolyubov calculations with the Sly4 forces. For the extremely neutron-rich Zr isotopes, states with very large deformation parameters (β ≈ 0.4?0.45) of neutron and proton density distributions can be realized. Beyond the neutron drip line with respect to emission of two neutrons, the existence of ^150,152Zr isotopes, which are stable with respect to one-neutron emission, is predicted.     

Probing the nuclear symmetry energy with heavy-ion reactions induced by neutron-rich nuclei

Heavy-ion reactions induced by neutron-rich nuclei provide a unique means to investigate the equation of state of isospin-asymmetric nuclear matter, especially the density dependence of the nuclear symmetry energy. In particular, recent analyses of the isospin diffusion data in heavy-ion reactions have already put a stringent constraint on the nuclear symmetry energy around the nuclear matter saturation density. We review this exciting result and discuss its implications on nuclear effective interactions and the neutron skin thickness of heavy nuclei. In addition, we also review the theoretical progress on probing the high density behaviors of the nuclear symmetry energy in heavy-ion reactions induced by high energy radioactive beams.