Fusion reaction of a weakly-bound nucleus with a deformed target

TL;DR

This study investigates how the deformation of a heavy target nucleus influences fusion reactions with a weakly-bound, halo nucleus, using a detailed potential model to reproduce experimental fusion cross sections.

Contribution

The paper introduces a potential model that accounts for target deformation and halo structure, successfully reproducing fusion cross sections for both $^{14}$C and $^{15}$C projectiles.

Findings

Deformation of the target nucleus has a minimal net effect on fusion.

The halo nature of $^{15}$C is crucial in modeling the fusion process.

Breakup and transfer channels have small impact on the fusion cross section.

Abstract

We discuss the role of deformation of the target nucleus in the fusion reaction of the $^{15}$C + $^{232}$Th system at energies around the Coulomb barrier, for which $^{15}$C is a well-known one-neutron halo nucleus. To this end, we construct the potential between $^{15}$C and $^{232}$Th with the double folding procedure, assuming that the projectile nucleus is composed of the core nucleus, $^{14}$C, and a valance neutron. By taking into account the halo nature of the projectile nucleus as well as the deformation of the target nucleus, we simultaneously reproduce the fusion cross sections for the $^{14}$C + $^{232}$Th and the $^{15}$C + $^{232}$Th systems. Our calculation indicates that the net effect of the breakup and the transfer channels is small for this system.