Role of projectile breakup effects and intrinsic degrees of freedom on fusion dynamics**Supported by Dr. D. S. Kothari Post-Doctoral Fellowship Scheme sponsored by University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi, India

Abstract

This article analyzes the fusion dynamics of loosely bound and stable projectiles with Zr-target isotopes within the context of the coupled channel approach and the energy-dependent Woods-Saxon potential model (EDWSP model). In the case of the 28Si + 90Zr reaction, the coupling to the inelastic surface excitations results in an adequate description of the observed fusion dynamics while in case of the 28Si + 94Zr reaction, the coupling to collective surface vibrational states as well as the neutron (multi-neutron) transfer channel is necessary in the coupled channel calculations to reproduce the below-barrier fusion data. However, the EDWSP model calculation provides an accurate explanation of the fusion data of 28Si + 90,94Zr reactions in the domain of the Coulomb barrier. In the fusion of the 6Li + 90Zr reaction, the inclusion of the nuclear structure degrees of freedom recovers the observed sub-barrier fusion enhancement but results in suppression of the above barrier fusion data by 34% with respect to the coupled channel calculations. Using EDWSP model calculations, this suppression factor is reduced by 14% and consequently, the above-barrier fusion data of 6Li + 90Zr reaction is suppressed by 20% with reference to the EDWSP model calculations. Such fusion suppression at above-barrier energies can be correlated with the breakup of the projectile (6Li) before reaching the fusion barrier, as a consequence of low binding energy.