Spin density and the real part of the heavy-ion potential.

Abstract

The contribution of the spin density term in the Vautherin-Brink energy density functional to the real part of the heavy-ion potential is estimated. The explicit expression involving Hartree-Fock orbitals given by Vautherin and Brink is used to calculate the spin density where, instead of self-consistent orbitals, shell model orbitals have been used. Results are presented for target projectile combinations such that (a) one of the nuclei is spin unsaturated and (b) both are spin unsaturated. The contribution of the spin density term to the heavy-ion potential is found to be appreciable.