Effects of Nuclear Structure on Quasi-fission

TL;DR

This paper investigates how nuclear structure influences quasi-fission in heavy-ion collisions, combining theoretical models and experiments to understand the competition between fusion and quasi-fission mechanisms.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive analysis of the effects of nuclear deformation, orientation, magicity, and isospin on quasi-fission using quantum microscopic models and experimental data.

Findings

Nuclear deformation and orientation significantly affect quasi-fission probabilities.

Entrance channel magicity influences the likelihood of fusion versus quasi-fission.

The study enhances understanding of reaction dynamics for heavy and superheavy nuclei.

Abstract

The quasi-fission mechanism hinders fusion of heavy systems because of a mass flow between the reactants, leading to a re-separation of more symmetric fragments in the exit channel. A good understanding of the competition between fusion and quasi-fission mechanisms is expected to be of great help to optimize the formation and study of heavy and superheavy nuclei. Quantum microscopic models, such as the time-dependent Hartree-Fock approach, allow for a treatment of all degrees of freedom associated to the dynamics of each nucleon. This provides a description of the complex reaction mechanisms, such as quasi-fission, with no parameter adjusted on reaction mechanisms. In particular, the role of the deformation and orientation of a heavy target, as well as the entrance channel magicity and isospin are investigated with theoretical and experimental approaches.