Quadrupole moments and nucleon excitation strengths in even-A Sm isotopes

Abstract

We present a coherent coupled-channel analysis of 7 MeV neutron and 16 MeV proton elastic and inelastic scattering from 148, 152, 154Sm. The optical potential and nuclear deformation parameters are determined so as to fit not only these elastic and inelastic scattering data but also the low-energy neutron scattering properties and the total cross sections over a wide energy range. This analysis provides evidence of the same excitation strengths for both projectiles in the case of 152, 154Sm, and of a smaller excitation strength for the proton than for the neutron in case of 148Sm. Moreover the quadrupole moments of these deformed optical potentials are in good agreement with those extracted from Coulomb excitation measurements and from nuclear matter distribution calculations.