Microscopic predictions for the production of neutron-rich nuclei in the reaction Yb176 + Yb176

Abstract

Background: Production of neutron-rich nuclei is of vital importance to both understanding nuclear structure far from stability and to informing astrophysical models of the rapid neutron capture process (r-process). Multinucleon transfer (MNT) in heavy-ion collisions offers a possibility to produce neutron-rich nuclei far from stability. Purpose: The $^{176}\mathrm{Yb}+{}^{176}\mathrm{Yb}$ reaction has been suggested as a potential candidate to explore the neutron-rich region surrounding the principal fragments. The current study has been conducted with the goal of providing guidance for future experiments wishing to study this (or similar) system. Methods: Time-dependent Hartree-Fock (TDHF) and its time-dependent random-phase approximation (TDRPA) extension are used to examine both scattering and MNT characteristics in $^{176}\mathrm{Yb}+{}^{176}\mathrm{Yb}$. TDRPA calculations are performed to compute fluctuations and correlations of the neutron and proton numbers, allowing for estimates of primary fragment production probabilities. Results: Both scattering results from TDHF and transfer results from the TDRPA are presented for different energies, orientations, and impact parameters. In addition to fragment composition, scattering angles and total kinetic energies, as well as correlations between these observables are presented. Conclusions: $^{176}\mathrm{Yb}+{}^{176}\mathrm{Yb}$ appears to be an interesting probe for the mid-mass neutron-rich region of the chart of nuclides. The predictions of both TDHF and TDRPA are speculative, and will benefit from future experimental results to test the validity of this approach to studying MNT in heavy, symmetric collisions.