Spectroscopic factors as a probe of nuclear shape in $^{44}$S via one-neutron knockout reaction

TL;DR

This study investigates how spectroscopic factors and electric transition measurements from knockout reactions can reveal shape coexistence and fluctuations in the neutron-rich nucleus $^{44}$S, using advanced nuclear structure models.

Contribution

It demonstrates the sensitivity of spectroscopic factors and electric transitions to shape mixing in $^{44}$S, highlighting the importance of reaction measurements as probes of nuclear shape coexistence.

Findings

Shape fluctuations in $^{44}$S depend strongly on the nuclear interaction used.

Electric transition patterns vary significantly with different shape configurations.

Knockout reaction cross sections are sensitive to the underlying nuclear shape.

Abstract

Background: Neutron-rich nucleus $^{44}$S lies in the region where traditional $N=28$ shell closure weakens, leading to the emergence of shape coexistence and large-amplitude collective motion (LACM). Understanding the nature and degree of shape mixing in this nucleus remains an important and fascinating problem. Purpose: We investigate the manifestation of shape fluctuations in $^{44}$S and examine how the electric transitions and the spectroscopic factors from one-neutron knockout reactions can serve as probes of shapes mixing. Method: The antisymmetrized molecular dynamics combined with the generator coordinate method (AMD+GCM) is used to study the structure of $^{44}$S and $^{43}$S. Calculations are performed by using Gogny effective interactions with two different parameter sets, D1S and D1M, to explore the interaction dependence of shape mixing. Monopole and quadrupole transition strengths and spectroscopic factors are evaluated. The cross sections for the $^{44}$S$(p,pn)^{43}$S reaction are calculated within the distorted wave impulse approximation (DWIA). Results: The calculations reveal a strong interaction dependence of shape fluctuation in $^{44}$S. The structural differences obtained from D1S and D1M interactions produce distinct patterns of the electric transitions, the spectroscopic factors, and the cross sections for $^{44}$S$(p,pn)^{43}$S knockout reaction. Conclusion: The population of $3/2^-$ and $7/2^-$ states of $^{43}$S is particularly sensitive to the underlying shape fluctuation in $^{44}$S. Thus, the measurement of $^{44}$S$(p,pn)^{43}$S reaction can provide a direct experimental probe.