Nucleon distribution in nuclei beyond \beta-stability line

TL;DR

This study investigates the properties of nucleon distributions, neutron skin, and radii in nuclei beyond the beta-stability line, revealing how these features are influenced by various nuclear interactions and asymmetry.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of nucleon distribution changes and neutron skin growth in unstable nuclei, highlighting the polarization effect and the roles of different nuclear forces.

Findings

Bulk density decreases beyond the beta-stability line.

Neutron skin growth does not obey saturation due to polarization.

Neutron-skin thickness depends mainly on skin and halo effects.

Abstract

The radii of nucleon distribution, bulk density, and neutron skin in nuclei beyond the \beta-stability line are studied within the direct variational method. We evaluate the partial equation of state of finite nuclei and demonstrate that the bulk density decreases beyond the beta stability line. We show that the growth of the neutron skin in unstable nuclei does not obey the saturation condition because of the polarization effect. The value of the neutron-skin thickness \Delta r_{np}=\sqrt{<r_n^2>}-\sqrt{<r_p^2>} is caused by the different radii (skin effect) and only slightly by the different shapes (halo effect) of neutron and proton distributions. The relative contribution of both effects depends on the competition between the symmetry energy, and the spin-orbit and Coulomb interactions. The calculations of the isovector shift of the nuclear radius \Delta r_{np} show its primarily linear dependence on the asymmetry parameter X=(N-Z)/A.