Strong absorption radii from reaction cross section measurements for neutron-rich nuclei

Abstract

Energy-integrated reaction cross sections have been measured at energies ranging from 38 to 80 MeV/nucleon for various exotic neutron-rich isotopes of Al, Si, P, S, Cl, Ar, K, Ca, Sc, and Ti stopping in Si. An experimental technique is employed where Si detectors are used for both particle identification and to serve as the target material. The reduced strong absorption radii r[sub 0][sup 2] are deduced and compared with other experimental results. The radius dependence on the neutron number was studied and a trend of increasing reduced radius with neutron excess was found. This behavior is similar to that seen in lighter systems, although less pronounced than found there. The implications of this result on the conjectured existence of neutron halo or skin nuclei is discussed. [copyright] [ital 1999] [ital The American Physical Society]