Influence of vibrational excitation on surface diffuseness of inter-nuclear potential: study through heavy-ion quasi-elastic scattering at deep subbarrier energies

TL;DR

This study investigates how vibrational excitations and transfer couplings affect the surface diffuseness of the inter-nuclear potential in heavy-ion reactions at deep subbarrier energies, revealing significant effects in certain systems.

Contribution

It demonstrates the impact of vibrational and transfer couplings on surface diffuseness in heavy-ion quasi-elastic scattering, especially for C+Pd systems, using coupled-channels analysis.

Findings

Vibrational excitations significantly influence surface diffuseness in C+Pd systems.

Transfer couplings also affect the surface diffuseness parameter.

Earlier negligible effects are challenged by new findings in specific nuclear systems.

Abstract

We discuss the role of channel coupling in the surface properties of an inter-nuclear potential for heavy-ion reactions. To this end, we analyze the experimental quasi-elastic cross sections for the $^{12}$C + $^{105,106}$Pd and $^{13}$C + $^{105,106}$Pd systems using the coupled-channels approach by including the vibrational excitations in the target nuclei. While earlier studies have reported a negligible influence of vibrational excitation on the surface diffuseness parameter for spherical systems, we find a significant effect for the C+Pd systems. Our systematic study also reveals influence of transfer couplings on the surface diffuseness parameter.