Sensitivity of the electric dipole polarizability to the neutron skin thickness in ${}^{208}$Pb

TL;DR

This paper investigates how the electric dipole polarizability in lead-208 relates to its neutron skin thickness, using various nuclear models to understand implications for nuclear symmetry energy.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive analysis of the sensitivity of dipole polarizability to neutron skin thickness across multiple nuclear energy density functionals.

Findings

Strong correlation between $ ext{α}_D$ and $r_{ m skin}$ in ${}^{208}$Pb.

Insights into the density dependence of nuclear symmetry energy.

Guidance for future experimental and theoretical studies.

Abstract

The static dipole polarizability, $\alpha_{\rm D}$, in ${}^{208}$Pb has been recently measured with high-resolution via proton inelastic scattering at the Research Center for Nuclear Physics (RCNP). This observable is thought to be intimately connected with the neutron skin thickness, $r_{\rm skin}$, of the same nucleus and, more fundamentally, it is believed to be associated with the density dependence of the nuclear symmetry energy. The impact of $r_{\rm skin}$ on $\alpha_{\rm D}$ in ${}^{208}$Pb is investigated and discussed on the basis of a large and representative set of relativistic and non-relativistic nuclear energy density functionals (EDF).