Nuclear Reactions with Exotic Beams

Abstract

We review different aspects of the physics involved in reactions induced by exotic nuclear beams. These include, in particular, effects associated with the existence of skin and haloes in systems far removed from the stability valley. From the point of view of nuclear structure we discuss the consequences of those features in the excitation of giant resonances and other collective modes of a novel character. The experimental signatures of an extended neutron/proton density for weakly-bound systems in processes such as projectile break-up and fusion at energies close to the Coulomb barrier are also discussed, with specific emphasis in the role played by the continuum states.