Isovector deformation and its link to the neutron shell closure

DWBA analysis of the inelastic $^{30-40}$S$(p,p')$ and $^{18-22}$O$(p,p')$ scattering data measured in the inverse kinematics has been performed to determine the isoscalar ($\delta_0$) and isovector ($\delta_1$) deformation lengths of the 2$^+_1$ excitations in the Sulfur and Oxygen isotopes using a compact folding approach. A systematic $N$-dependence of $\delta_0$ and $\delta_1$ has been established which shows a link between $\delta_1$ and the neutron-shell closure. Strong isovector deformations were found in several cases, e.g., the 2$^+_1$ state in $^{20}$O where $\delta_1$ is nearly three times larger than $\delta_0$. These results confirm the relation $\delta_1>\delta_0$ anticipated from the core polarization by the valence neutrons in the open-shell (neutron rich) nuclei. The effect of neutron shell closure at N=14 or 16 has been discussed based on the folding model analysis of the inelastic $^{22}$O+$p$ scattering data at 46.6 MeV/u measured recently at GANIL.Comment: Talk given at RNB7 conference (Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, July 3-7, 2006); 4 pages, 4 figures, to appear in Eur. Phys. Journal

Probing the isoscalar excitations of 12C with inelastic alpha scattering

The robust (spin and isospin zero) $\alpha$-particle remains one of the best projectiles to probe the nuclear isoscalar excitations. In the present work, a microscopic folding model analysis of the \ac inelastic scattering to the 2$^+$ (4.44 MeV), 0$^+$ (7.65 MeV), 3$^-$ (9.64 MeV), 0$^+$ (10.3 MeV) and 1$^-$ (10.84 MeV) states in $^{12}$C has been performed using the 3-$\alpha$ resonating group method wave functions. The isoscalar transition strengths of these states were carefully studied based on the coupled-channel analysis using the microscopic folded form factors. A correlation between the weak binding and/or short lifetime of the excited state and absorption in the exit channel of inelastic scattering has been established.Comment: Talk given at SOTANCP Workshop, Strasbourg, May 2008; to appear in International Journal of Modern Physics

Probing the isovector transition strength of the low-lying nuclear excitations induced by inverse kinematics proton scattering

A compact approach based on the folding model is suggested for the determination of the isoscalar and isovector transition strengths of the low-lying ($\Delta S=\Delta T=0$) excitations induced by inelastic proton scattering measured with exotic beams. Our analysis of the recently measured inelastic $^{18,20}$O+p scattering data at $E_{\rm lab}=30$ and 43 MeV/nucleon has given for the first time an accurate estimate of the isoscalar $\beta_0$ and isovector $\beta_1$ deformation parameters (which cannot be determined from the (p,p') data alone by standard methods) for 2$^+_1$ and $3^-_1$ excited states in $^{18,20}$O. Quite strong isovector mixing was found in the 2$^+_1$ inelastic $^{20}$O+p scattering channel, where the strength of the isovector form factor $F_1$ (prototype of the Lane potential) corresponds to a $\beta_1$ value almost 3 times larger than $\beta_0$ and a ratio of nuclear transition matrix elements $M_n/M_p\simeq 4.2$.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Folding model study of the elastic α+α\alpha + \alpha scattering at low energies

The folding model analysis of the elastic $\alpha + \alpha$ scattering at the incident energies below the reaction threshold of 34.7 MeV (in the lab system) has been done using the well-tested density dependent versions of the M3Y interaction and realistic choices for the $^4$He density. Because the absorption is negligible at the energies below the reaction threshold, we were able to probe the $\alpha + \alpha$ optical potential at low energies quite unambiguously and found that the $\alpha + \alpha$ overlap density used to construct the density dependence of the M3Y interaction is strongly distorted by the Pauli blocking. This result gives possible explanation of a long-standing inconsistency of the double-folding model in its study of the elastic $\alpha + \alpha$ and $\alpha$-nucleus scattering at low energies using the same realistic density dependent M3Y interaction

Folding model study of the charge-exchange scattering to the isobaric analog state and implication for the nuclear symmetry energy

The Fermi transition (\Delta L=\Delta S=0 and \Delta T=1) between the nuclear isobaric analog states (IAS), induced by the charge-exchange (p,n) or (3He,t) reaction, can be considered as "elastic" scattering of proton or 3He by the isovector term of the optical potential (OP) that flips the projectile isospin. The accurately measured (p,n) or (3He,t) scattering cross-section to the IAS can be used, therefore, to probe the isospin dependence of the proton or 3He optical potential. Within the folding model, the isovector part of the OP is determined exclusively by the neutron-proton difference in the nuclear densities and the isospin dependence of the effective nucleon-nucleon (NN) interaction. Because the isovector coupling explicitly links the isovector part of the proton or 3He optical potential to the cross section of the charge-exchange (p,n) or (3He,t) scattering to the IAS, the isospin dependence of the effective (in-medium) NN interaction can be well tested in the folding model analysis of these charge-exchange reactions. On the other hand, the same isospin- and density dependent NN interaction can also be used in a Hartree-Fock calculation of asymmetric nuclear matter, to estimate the nuclear matter energy and its asymmetry part (the nuclear symmetry energy). As a result, the fine-tuning of the isospin dependence of the effective NN interaction against the measured (p,n) or (3He,t) cross sections should allow us to make some realistic prediction of the nuclear symmetry energy and its density dependence.Comment: Accepted for publication in European Physical Journal A - "Hadrons and Nuclei