Unified approach to nuclear densities from exotic atoms

TL;DR

This paper presents a unified method to determine nuclear density distributions using exotic atom data, revealing consistent neutron radius estimates from antiprotonic and pionic atoms but differing in shape sensitivities.

Contribution

It introduces a combined analysis approach for nuclear densities from exotic atoms, clarifying discrepancies in neutron distribution shapes.

Findings

Good agreement in neutron radii from different probes

Different radial sensitivities explain shape discrepancies

Method improves understanding of nuclear density parameters

Abstract

Parameters of nuclear density distributions are derived from least-squares fits to strong interaction observables in exotic atoms. Global analyses of antiprotonic and pionic atoms show reasonably good agreement between the two types of probes regarding the average behaviour of root-mean-square radii of the neutron distributions. Apparent conflict regarding the shape of the neutron distribution is attributed to different radial sensitivities of these two probes.