Searching for Solitons in Heavy-Ion Reactions near the Fermi Energy

TL;DR

This paper investigates the potential existence of solitons in heavy-ion reactions near the Fermi energy, using a hybrid alpha-cluster model to identify conditions under which solitonic solutions may form.

Contribution

It introduces a novel methodology employing the hybrid alpha-cluster model to explore soliton formation in heavy-ion collisions at specific energies.

Findings

Soliton production is suggested at E/A=25-45 MeV/u in the forward direction.

The total cross section for soliton production is estimated to be at least a few microbarns.

Results indicate potential links to toroid states of 28Si at low angular momenta.

Abstract

Solitons are special shape-conserving hydrodynamical solutions that appear in many areas of physics. Here, we explore the existence of such solutions in microscopic descriptions of the heavy ion reaction $^{12}$C + $^{28}$Si $\rightarrow$ $^{12}$C$^*$ + 7$\alpha$ in the range E/A=10-65 MeV/u. After recognizing the centrality of the collision and time-reversibility as fundamental requirements for the presence of solitonic $^{12}$C, we utilize the Hybrid $\alpha$-Cluster model for our analysis with a novel methodology. Our results suggest soliton production for E/A=25-45 MeV/u in the forward direction, with a total cross section being at least in the order of a few $\mu$b. This, apart from being encouraging for possible experimental studies, maybe connected to possible toroid states of $^{28}$Si at low angular momenta.