$^9$Be elastic scattering on $^{208}$Pb and $^{27}$Al within a four-body reaction framework

TL;DR

This paper uses a four-body CDCC approach to analyze low-energy $^9$Be elastic scattering on different targets, highlighting the importance of continuum couplings and projectile resonances for accurate cross section predictions.

Contribution

It introduces a four-body reaction framework with a three-body $^9$Be model using THO basis, improving the description of reactions involving three-body projectiles.

Findings

Continuum couplings significantly affect elastic cross sections at low energies.

Dipolar contributions are small but relevant near the Coulomb barrier.

The method accurately reproduces experimental data for $^9$Be scattering.

Abstract

We investigate the low-energy $^9$Be elastic scattering on two different targets (heavy, light) within a four-body framework using the Continuum-Discretized Coupled-Channels (CDCC) method. The $^9$Be projectile is described in a $\alpha + \alpha + n$ three-body model using the analytical transformed harmonic oscillator (THO) basis in hyperspherical coordinates. We show that continuum couplings are important to describe the elastic cross section, especially at low energies and on heavy targets. The dipolar contribution to the elastic cross section at energies around the Coulomb barrier is important but small compared to the case of halo nuclei. The effect of the projectile low-energy resonances is also relevant. The agreement with the available experimental data supports the reliability of the method to describe reactions induced by three-body projectiles including more than one charged particle.