Precise measurement of nuclear interaction cross sections towards neutron-skin determination with R³B

Summary, in English

The R³B (Reactions with Relativistic Radioactive Beams) experiment as a major instrument of the NUSTAR collaboration for the research facility FAIR in Darmstadt is designed for kinematically complete studies of reactions with high-energy radioactive beams. Part of the broad physics program of R³B is to constrain the asymmetry term in the nuclear equation-of-state and hence improve the description of highly asymmetric nuclear matter (e.g., in neutron stars). For a precise determination of the neutron-skin thickness – an observable which is directly correlated with the symmetry energy in theoretical calculations – by measuring absolute fragmentation cross sections, it is essential to quantify the uncertainty and challenge the reaction model under stable conditions. During the successful FAIR Phase-0 campaign of R³B, we precisely measured the energy dependence of total interaction cross sections in ¹²C+¹²C collisions, for a direct comparison with calculations based on the eikonal reaction theory.

• Author: L. Ponnath; Felix Wamers; J. Cederkall
• Department/s: Particle and nuclear physics; Department of Physics
• Publishing year: 2025-04
• Language: English
• Publication/Series: Nuclear Physics A
• Volume: 1056
• Links: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nuclphysa.2025.123022
• Document type: Journal article
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Topic: Subatomic Physics
• Status: Published
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISSN: 0375-9474