Repulsive aspects of pairing correlation in nuclear fusion reaction

TL;DR

This study uses advanced nuclear simulation methods to explore how pairing correlations affect fusion reactions, indicating that pairing may hinder fusion probability near the Coulomb barrier.

Contribution

It introduces the application of the canonical-basis time-dependent Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov theory to nuclear fusion, highlighting the impact of pairing correlations on fusion hindrance.

Findings

Pairing correlation may hinder fusion probability near Coulomb barrier.

Preliminary results suggest similar effects in heavier nuclei.

Comparison between Cb-TDHFB and TDHF reveals pairing's influence.

Abstract

Numerical simulation on nuclear collisions are performed using the canonical-basis time-dependent Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov theory (Cb-TDHFB) in the three-dimensional coordinate space. Comparing results of the Cb-TDHFB and the conventional time-dependent Hartree-Fock (TDHF) calculations, we study effects of the pairing correlation on fusion reaction of $^{22}$O+$^{22}$O, $^{52}$Ca+$^{52}$Ca, and $^{22}$O+$^{52}$Ca, using the Skyrme SkM$^*$ functional and a contact-type pairing energy functional. Although current results are yet preliminary, they may suggest that the pairing correlation could hinder the fusion probability at energies in the vicinity of the Coulomb barrier height. We also perform a calculation for heavier nuclei, $^{96}$Zn+$^{124}$Sn, which seems to suggest a similar hindrance effect.