Impact of Nuclear Deformation on Neutron Dripline Prediction: A Study of Mg Isotopes

We have employed the relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov (RHB) model with density-dependent meson-exchange interaction and separable pairing to investigate neutron dripline mechanisms for heavy Mg isotopes. In the present study, 40Mg is predicted to be dripline nuclei. The calculations are carried out by taking axial deformation into account. An investigation of shape transition is also done for even-even 32-42Mg isotopes. Our prediction for neutron dripline for 40Mg is consistent with some recent studies.

Exotic structures in exotic nuclei

Nuclei with proton and neutron numbers away from stability are known as exotic, and provide stringent tests of nuclear models, mainly developed for the description of stable nuclei. However, only the most extreme combinations lead to literally exotic structures, with sometimes unexpected properties. In this contribution we review some selected examples around the neutron dripline of very light elements: neutron halo structures with embedded substructures in the boron chain; the emission of neutron pairs in ^{16}16Be; and the existence of multi-neutron resonances in ‘superheavy’ hydrogen isotopes.

Intermediate-Energy Fragmentation of Heavy-Element Beams: A Novel Approach Towards the Nuclear Drip-Lines

The fragmentation of heavy beams at intermediate energy and the opportunities offered by this in the exploration of heavy nuclei near the drip lines will be discussed. First, a study of 1 9 7Au projectile fragmentation at 30 MeV/nucleon will be presented in which an appreciable number of new p-rich nuclei were observed. Perspectives of proton radioactivity studies using the fragmentation approach will be discussed. Second, a study of the fission of 2 3 8U projectiles at 20 MeV/nucleon will be presented, where a number of new neutron rich nuclei were identified. Production rates of extremely η-rich nuclides from a typical projectile-fragmentation facility are given. A large number of nuclei along the astrophysical r-process path can be investigated and approach of the neutron dripline in the region Z=45-50 may be possible. The ability to produce and study these either p-rich or η-rich nuclei at intermediate (and possibly lower) energy facilities may open a variety of possibilities for experimental studies of exotic heavy nuclei.