Semiclassical theory of sub-Coulomb neutron transfer in collisions of deformed heavy ions and its application to the 238U

Abstract

The theory of sub-Coulomb transfer of one neutron is extended to include the deformation and orientation effects of the colliding heavy ions. Both the deformation and orientation degrees of freedom are treated by classical equations of motions. In these calculations the center-to-center and surface-to-surface distances at closest approach are determined, on which the transfer cross section is assumed to depend. Also, an analytical expression for the center-to-center distance is derived. Application is made to the recent data of the one-neutron transfer in $^{238}\mathrm{U}$ collisions at 5.05--6.07 MeV/nucleon. Deformation effects are shown to be important for central collisions.