Measurements of heavy-ion fusion cross sections can often be reproduced fairlywell at energies close to the Coulomb barrier by coupled-channels calculationsthat include couplings to one- and two-phonon excitations of the low-lying2+ and 3- states in projectile and target. However, it is necessary to considerthe influence of transfer reactions when the Q-values for such reactions arepositive. Calculations have in the past been challenging at energies far belowthe Coulomb barrier, where many measurements have shown a strong hindrance withrespect to expectations. There are also difficulties at energies far above thebarrier, where the data are suppressed. Both phenomena can be explained byapplying a relatively shallow potential in the entrance channel. It is shownthat such a shallow potential can be constructed using the double-foldingtechnique and an effective NN interaction that produces a realisticincompressibility for overlapping nuclei. It is also shown that such apotential can explain the oscillations that are observed in light-ion fusionreactions at high energy, and that it is consistent with the quasi-molecularresonances that were discussed in the 1970s.This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy,Office of Nuclear Physics, contract no. DE-AC02-06CH11357.

Challenges in coupled-channels calculations of heavy-ion fusion reactions

246th National Meeting (2013)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.