Surface properties of neutron-rich exotic nuclei: A source for studying the nuclear symmetry energy

TL;DR

This paper investigates how the neutron skin thickness in certain nuclei correlates with the nuclear symmetry energy, using a self-consistent mean-field approach and density fluctuation models to understand the underlying nuclear matter properties.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed analysis of the correlation between neutron skin thickness and symmetry energy parameters across multiple isotopic chains using advanced theoretical models.

Findings

A strong correlation between neutron skin thickness and symmetry energy parameters.

Mass dependence of symmetry energy and neutron skin analyzed.

Role of neutron-proton asymmetry in nuclear properties elucidated.

Abstract

We study the correlation between the thickness of the neutron skin in finite nuclei and the nuclear symmetry energy for isotopic chains of even-even Ni, Sn, and Pb nuclei in the framework of the deformed self-consistent mean-field Skyrme HF+BCS method. The symmetry energy, the neutron pressure and the asymmetric compressibility in finite nuclei are calculated within the coherent density fluctuation model using the symmetry energy as a function of density within the Brueckner energy-density functional. The mass dependence of the nuclear symmetry energy and the neutron skin thickness are also studied together with the role of the neutron-proton asymmetry. A correlation between the parameters of the equation of state (symmetry energy and its density slope) and the neutron skin is suggested in the isotopic chains of Ni, Sn, and Pb nuclei.