Elastic scattering of <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mrow><mml:mmultiscripts><mml:mi mathvariant="normal">B</mml:mi><mml:mprescripts/><mml:none/><mml:mn>8</mml:mn></mml:mmultiscripts><mml:mo>+</mml:mo></mml:mrow><mml:mmultiscripts><mml:mi>Zr</mml:mi><mml:mprescripts/><mml:none/><mml:mi>nat</mml:mi></mml:mmultiscripts></mml:math> at the sub-barrier energy of 26.5 MeV
K. Palli, A. Pakou, P. D. O’Malley, L. Acosta, Á. M. Sánchez-Benítez, G. A. Souliotis, A. M. Moro, E. F. Aguilera, E. Andrade, D. Godos, O. Sgouros, V. Soukeras, C. Agodi, Thomas L. Bailey, D. W. Bardayan, C. Boomershine, M. Brodeur, F. Cappuzzello, S. Carmichael, M. Cavallaro, Stefania Dede, J. A. Dueñas, J.C.M. Henning, K. Lee, W. S. Porter, F. Rivero, W. W. von Seeger
Abstract
The reaction dynamics for the proton halo nucleus $^{8}\mathrm{B}$ $+$ $^{\mathrm{nat}}\mathrm{Zr}$ is explored through an elastic scattering measurement at the sub-Coulomb barrier energy of 26.5 MeV. The differential angular distribution has been measured and the total reaction cross section as well as the interaction distance are derived via an optical model analysis. The present result is combined with relevant values for $^{8}\mathrm{B}$ in comparison with $^{6}\mathrm{He}$, $^{7}\mathrm{Be}$, $^{6,7}\mathrm{Li}$, and $^{16}\mathrm{O}$ on various targets through a consistent optical model analysis at sub- and near-barrier energies. The results demonstrate the proton halo nature of this exotic nucleus, which exhibits larger values for both the total reaction and interaction radii observables, than those determined for the proton-rich radioactive nucleus $^{7}\mathrm{Be}$ as well as for other stable weakly bound projectiles. Similar results are found for the neutron halo nucleus $^{6}\mathrm{He}$. The present elastic scattering results are also described well with continuum-discretized coupled-channels calculations, exhibiting a weak coupling to continuum.