Nuclear reaction path and requantization of TDDFT

TL;DR

This paper develops a theoretical framework using the adiabatic self-consistent collective coordinate method to derive reaction paths for sub-barrier nuclear fusion, revealing deviations from simple models that impact fusion cross sections.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach to model nuclear fusion reactions at sub-barrier energies by constructing a collective Hamiltonian based on reaction paths.

Findings

Reaction path deviates significantly after nuclei touch.

Deviations may influence deep sub-barrier fusion cross sections.

The method applies to N=Z stable nuclei like alpha+16O, 16O+16O, and alpha+12C.

Abstract

Using a theory of large amplitude collective motion, the adiabatic self-consistent collective coordinate method, we derive reaction path for the fusion process at sub-barrier energies. The collective Hamiltonian to describe the fusion process is constructed, based on the obtained reaction path and canonical variables. We study the reaction of N=Z stable nuclei, alpha+16O, 16O+16O, and alpha+12C. The results suggest that, after two nuclei touch, the reaction path is significantly deviated from the simple relative motion, which may affect the deep sub-barrier fusion cross section.