Neutron Density Distributions of Neutron-Rich Nuclei Studied with the Isobaric Yield Ratio Difference

TL;DR

This study uses the isobaric yield ratio difference (IBD) method to probe neutron density variations in neutron-rich $^{48}$Ca nuclei, revealing sensitivity differences between prefragment and final fragment analyses.

Contribution

The paper introduces a novel application of IBD to study neutron density distributions in neutron-rich nuclei, demonstrating sensitivity differences in prefragment versus final fragment results.

Findings

IBD is sensitive to neutron density differences in prefragments.

Different neutron density distributions of $^{48}$Ca are modeled by adjusting diffuseness.

IBD results from final fragments are less sensitive to density variations.

Abstract

The isobaric yield ratio difference (IBD) between two reactions of similar experimental setups is found to be sensitive to nuclear density differences between projectiles. In this article, the IBD probe is used to study the density variation in neutron-rich $^{48}$Ca. By adjusting diffuseness in the neutron density distribution, three different neutron density distributions of $^{48}$Ca are obtained. The yields of fragments in the 80$A$ MeV $^{40, 48}$Ca + $^{12}$C reactions are calculated by using a modified statistical abrasion-ablation model. It is found that the IBD results obtained from the prefragments are sensitive to the density distribution of the projectile, while the IBD results from the final fragments are less sensitive to the density distribution of the projectile.