Toward a microscopic description of reactions involving exotic nuclei

TL;DR

This paper extends the CDCC method to a microscopic model using nucleon-target interactions, enabling accurate predictions of reactions involving exotic nuclei, demonstrated through elastic scattering of $^7$Li with excellent agreement with experimental data.

Contribution

The paper introduces the microscopic Continuum Discretized Coupled Channels (MCDCC) method, allowing for parameter-free predictions and inclusion of core excitations in nuclear reaction modeling.

Findings

Excellent agreement with experimental elastic scattering data for $^7$Li+$^{208}$Pb.

Proper inclusion of breakup channels is crucial for accurate cross sections.

Demonstrated potential for future applications in inelastic scattering studies.

Abstract

We propose an extension of the Continuum Discretized Coupled Channels (CDCC) method, where the projectile is described by a microscopic cluster model. This microscopic generalization (MCDCC) only relies on nucleon-target interactions, and therefore presents an important predictive power. Core excitations can be included without any further parameter. As an example we investigate the $\lipb$ elastic scattering at $E_{lab}=27$ and 35 MeV. The $^7$Li nucleus is known to present an $\alpha+t$ cluster structure, and is well described by the Resonating Group Method. An excellent agreement is obtained for the $\lipb$ elastic cross sections, provided that breakup channels are properly included. We also present an application to inelastic scattering, and discuss future applications of the MCDCC.