Charge radii of exotic neon and magnesium isotopes
S. J. Novario, G. Hagen, G. R. Jansen, T. Papenbrock
Abstract
We compute the charge radii and ground-state energies of even-mass neon and magnesium isotopes from neutron number $N=8$ to the dripline. Our calculations are based on nucleon-nucleon and three-nucleon potentials from chiral effective field theory that include $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}$ isobars. These potentials yield an accurate saturation point and symmetry energy of nuclear matter. We use the coupled-cluster method and start from an axially symmetric reference state. Binding energies and two-neutron separation energies largely agree with data, and the dripline in neon is accurate. The computed charge radii are accurate for many isotopes where data exist. Finer details, such as isotope shifts, however, are not accurately reproduced. These chiral potentials indicate a subshell closure at $N=14$ for the radii (but not for two-neutron separation energies) and a decrease in charge radii at $N=8$ (observed in neon and predicted for magnesium). They yield a continued increase of charge radii as neutrons are added beyond $N=14$ yet underestimate the large increase at $N=20$ in magnesium.