One neutron triaxial halo candidates in aluminum isotopes from reaction observables

TL;DR

This paper combines advanced theoretical models to identify $^{40,42}$Al as the first triaxially deformed one-neutron p-wave halo candidates, supported by reaction observables indicating extended density distributions.

Contribution

It introduces a novel combination of triaxial relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov theory with the Glauber model to predict halo structures in aluminum isotopes.

Findings

Reaction cross sections for $^{40,42}$Al + $^{12}$C deviate from systematic trends.

Longitudinal momentum distributions are narrower for $^{40,42}$Al, indicating halo structures.

$^{40,42}$Al are identified as the first triaxially deformed $1n$ $p$-wave halo candidates.

Abstract

Microscopic description of one neutron ($1n$) halo candidates $^{40,42}$Al, with particular triaxial shape, is presented by combining the triaxial relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov theory in continuum (TRHBc) with the Glauber reaction model for the first time. In this scheme, the reaction cross sections of aluminum isotopes on a carbon target at 240 and 900 MeV/A are calculated, which exhibit a pronounced increase for $^{40,42}$Al + $^{12}$C deviating from the systematic trend of their neighbours. Furthermore, the predicted longitudinal momentum distributions of the residues after $1n$ removal reactions for $^{40,42}$Al + $^{12}$C are narrower than those for $^{36,38}$Al + $^{12}$C, which suggest halo structure with spatially extended density distribution. Based on the large occupation probabilities of $p$-wave valence neutrons, we identify $^{40,42}$Al as the first triaxially deformed $1n$ $p$-wave halo candidates. This work cast a new light on the search for the heavier halo nuclei for future experiments in the mass region of $A\approx40$, through theoretical predictions from triaxial structure to reaction observables.