Elastic Scattering and Reaction Cross-section of Li-8 on Bi-209

Abstract

Nuclear physics in the 21st century is driven by a quest to understand the properties of ever more exotic nuclear systems. Unusual structural phenomena are observed to arise in light weakly bound nuclei such as Li-8. Li-8 has a cluster structure core of Li-7 surrounded by a loosely bound neutron which is observed to influence reaction mechanisms near the fusion barrier. Elastic scattering provides a vital step towards understanding more complicated reaction mechanisms. In this work, elastic scattering was measured for Li-8 + Bi-209 at energies 2% to 34% above the barrier, allowing extraction of reaction crosssections. The systematics of the reaction cross-sections of Li-8 compared to neighbouring nuclei Li-6,Li-7,Li-9,Li-11 are discussed. Show more