Asymmetry Energy Effects on Reaction Break-up Mechanisms Near the Fermi Energy

Abstract

Heavy Ion Collisions play an important role in probing the density dependence of the asymmetry energy by providing a unique tool to probe nuclear interactions away from saturation. Lower energy reactions (~10-15A MeV) provide a means of probing around and below normal nuclear density. In particular, these collisions can provide a sensitive means of probing the interaction and possibly the asymmetry terms of the nuclear Equation of State. Simulations of 124Sn+64Ni using Constrained Molecular Dynamics and Stochastic Mean Field calculations, at different asymmetry energies, have been used to study the asymmetry energy dependence of projectile-like fragment break-up channels as well as the mass correlations of the heaviest fragments. The results of these simulations present the possibility of developing an experimental probe for measuring the density dependence of the asymmetry energy using picosecond time resolution time of flight spectroscopy in a multi-detector array.