Total charge-changing cross sections for neutron-rich light nuclei

Abstract

Total charge-changing cross sections at relativistic energies on a carbon target have been measured for the light stable and neutron-rich radioactive nuclei 14 Be, 10−19 B, 12−20 C, 14−23 N, 16−24 O, and 18−27 F. A combined analysis of interaction and total charge-changing cross sections allows to draw definite conclusions concerning the thickness of the neutron skins or the size of the neutron halos for very neutron-rich isotopes. The obtained cross sections are also important in astrophysical applications to describe the propagation of galactic cosmic rays through the interstellar medium. A simple parameterization can reproduce the total charge-changing cross section within an accuracy of 5% for light nuclei from the valley of β -stability up to the drip line. These systematics improve the predictive capability of the formulae used to describe the unknown cross sections.