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Sensitivity of the fusion cross section to the density dependence of the symmetry energy

Reinhard PG, Umar AS, Stevenson PD, Piekarewicz J, Oberacker VE, Maruhn JA (2016)

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Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2016

Journal

Book Volume: 93

Article Number: 044618

Journal Issue: 4

DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevC.93.044618

Abstract

Background: The study of the nuclear equation of state (EOS) and the behavior of nuclear matter under extreme conditions is crucial to our understanding of many nuclear and astrophysical phenomena. Nuclear reactions serve as one of the means for studying the EOS. Purpose: It is the aim of this paper to discuss the impact of nuclear fusion on the EOS. This is a timely subject given the expected availability of increasingly exotic beams at rare isotope facilities [A. B. Balantekin, Mod. Phys. Lett. A 29, 1430010 (2014)MPLAEQ0217-732310.1142/S0217732314300109]. In practice, we focus on Ca48+Ca48 fusion. Method: We employ three different approaches to calculate fusion cross sections for a set of energy density functionals with systematically varying nuclear matter properties. Fusion calculations are performed using frozen densities, using a dynamic microscopic method based on density-constrained time-dependent Hartree-Fock (DC-TDHF) approach, as well as direct TDHF study of above barrier cross sections. For these studies, we employ a family of Skyrme parametrizations with systematically varied nuclear matter properties. Results: The folding-potential model provides a reasonable first estimate of cross sections. DC-TDHF, which includes dynamical polarization, reduces the fusion barriers and delivers much better cross sections. Full TDHF near the barrier agrees nicely with DC-TDHF. Most of the Skyrme forces which we used deliver, on the average, fusion cross sections in good agreement with the data. Trying to read off a trend in the results, we find a slight preference for forces which deliver a slope of symmetry energy of L≈50 MeV that corresponds to a neutron-skin thickness of Ca48 of Rskin=(0.180-0.210) fm. Conclusions: Fusion reactions in the barrier and sub-barrier region can be a tool to study the EOS and the neutron skin of nuclei. The success of the approach will depend on reduced experimental uncertainties of fusion data as well as the development of fusion theories that closely couple to the microscopic structure and dynamics.

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How to cite

APA:

Reinhard, P.-G., Umar, A.S., Stevenson, P.D., Piekarewicz, J., Oberacker, V.E., & Maruhn, J.A. (2016). Sensitivity of the fusion cross section to the density dependence of the symmetry energy. Physical Review C - Nuclear Physics, 93(4). https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.93.044618

MLA:

Reinhard, Paul-Gerhard, et al. "Sensitivity of the fusion cross section to the density dependence of the symmetry energy." Physical Review C - Nuclear Physics 93.4 (2016).

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