Correlation between the nuclear structure and reaction dynamics of Ar-isotopes as projectile using the relativistic mean-field approach

TL;DR

This study explores the relationship between nuclear structure and reaction dynamics of neutron-rich Ar isotopes using relativistic mean-field theory, revealing structural features and reaction cross-sections with implications for nuclear stability.

Contribution

It combines relativistic mean-field calculations with reaction modeling to analyze structural and reaction properties of Ar isotopes, including semi-bubble density structures and stability predictions.

Findings

Prolate nuclear shapes dominate in most isotopes.

Shell closures are observed at N=14, 20, 40.

32Ar shows potential semi-bubble density structure.

Abstract

This theoretical study is devoted to bridging the gap between the nuclear structure and reaction dynamics and unravelling their impact on each other, considering the neutron-rich light mass 30-60Ar isotopes. Using the relativistic mean-field with the NL3* parameter set, several bulk properties such as binding energies, charge radii, quadrupole deformation parameter, two neutron separation energy, and differential two neutron separation energy with the shell closure parameter are probed for the mentioned isotopic chain. For validation, the RMF (NL3*) results are compared with those obtained from the finite range droplet model (FRDM), Weizsacker-Skyrme model with WS3, WS* parameters and the available experimental data. Most of the participating isotopes are found to be prolate in structure and neutron shell closures are conspicuously revealed at N=14, 20, 40 but weakly shown at N=24, 28, 34. From our analysis, a central depletion in the nucleonic density is identified in 32Ar and 42-58Ar, indicating them as possible candidates for a semi-bubble-like structure. Interestingly, these results are consistent with recent theoretical and experimentally measured data. Besides, using the Glauber model, the reaction cross-sections are determined by taking 26-48Ar as projectiles and stable targets such as 12C, 16O, 40Ca, 90Zr, 124,132Sn, 208Pb and 304120. Although there is no experimental evidence for the stability of 304120, it has been predicted in Ref. [Mod. Phys. Lett. A {\bf 27}, 1250173 (2012)] as a stable nucleus. A relatively higher cross-section value is noticed between 30Ar and 32Ar which infers that 32Ar is the most stable isotope among the considered chain. Moreover, we noticed that the profile of the differential cross-sections and scattering angle are highly influenced by the mass of the target nuclei and the magnitude of the incident energy of the projectile nucleus.