Probing the Neutron Skin with Extreme Collision Geometries in Heavy-Ion Collisions
Fuente:
arXiv
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Preprint |
| Published: |
2025
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1866915541583659008 |
|---|---|
| author | Zhang, Hui Akridge, Alex Horowitz, Charles J. Liao, Jinfeng Xing, Hongxi |
| author_facet | Zhang, Hui Akridge, Alex Horowitz, Charles J. Liao, Jinfeng Xing, Hongxi |
| contents | Understanding how protons and neutrons are located differently in an atomic nucleus can provide fundamental information on nuclear structure and have far-reaching implications for astrophysics. A precise determination of this important difference, often quantified by the so-called neutron skin thickness, is challenging both theoretically and experimentally. Here we show how one can use a new category of observables in heavy ion collisions to probe the neutron skin thickness of nuclei like $^{208}$Pb and $^{48}$Ca, by utilizing the asymmetry between neutrons and protons of spectator nucleons in super-central collisions as well as that of participant nucleons in peripheral collisions. Using quantitative simulations, we demonstrate their sensitivity and great potential in constraining neutron skin thickness for both $^{208}$Pb and $^{48}$Ca nuclei in these extreme event geometries. Furthermore, we propose the asymmetric collisions between $^{48}$Ca and $^{40}$Ca nuclei as a unique and powerful way to nail down the neutron skin thickness. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2510_07816 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Probing the Neutron Skin with Extreme Collision Geometries in Heavy-Ion Collisions Zhang, Hui Akridge, Alex Horowitz, Charles J. Liao, Jinfeng Xing, Hongxi Nuclear Theory High Energy Physics - Experiment High Energy Physics - Phenomenology Nuclear Experiment Understanding how protons and neutrons are located differently in an atomic nucleus can provide fundamental information on nuclear structure and have far-reaching implications for astrophysics. A precise determination of this important difference, often quantified by the so-called neutron skin thickness, is challenging both theoretically and experimentally. Here we show how one can use a new category of observables in heavy ion collisions to probe the neutron skin thickness of nuclei like $^{208}$Pb and $^{48}$Ca, by utilizing the asymmetry between neutrons and protons of spectator nucleons in super-central collisions as well as that of participant nucleons in peripheral collisions. Using quantitative simulations, we demonstrate their sensitivity and great potential in constraining neutron skin thickness for both $^{208}$Pb and $^{48}$Ca nuclei in these extreme event geometries. Furthermore, we propose the asymmetric collisions between $^{48}$Ca and $^{40}$Ca nuclei as a unique and powerful way to nail down the neutron skin thickness. |
| title | Probing the Neutron Skin with Extreme Collision Geometries in Heavy-Ion Collisions |
| topic | Nuclear Theory High Energy Physics - Experiment High Energy Physics - Phenomenology Nuclear Experiment |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.07816 |