Extracting dynamics in the fusion of neutron-rich light nuclei

TL;DR

This paper investigates how neutron excess affects fusion dynamics in light nuclei by comparing experimental fusion cross-sections with theoretical models, revealing an increase in fusion dynamics with neutron richness that current models fail to predict.

Contribution

It provides experimental evidence of neutron excess influence on fusion dynamics and highlights limitations of existing theoretical models in capturing this trend.

Findings

Fusion cross-section increases with neutron excess.

Current models do not reproduce the observed trend.

Experimental data challenge existing theoretical predictions.

Abstract

The dependence of fusion dynamics on neutron excess for light nuclei is extracted. This is accomplished by comparing the average fusion cross-section at energies just above the fusion barrier for $^{12-15}$C + $^{12}$C with measurements of the interaction cross-section from high evergy collisions. The experimental results indicate that the fusion cross-section associated with dynamics increases with increasing neutron excess. Calculations with a time-dependent Hartree-Fock model fail to describe the observed trend.