Matter radii of light halo nuclei

Abstract

We re-examine the matter radii of diffuse halo nuclei, as deduced from reaction cross section measurements at high energy. Careful consideration is given to the intrinsic few-body structure of these projectiles and the adiabatic nature of the projectile-target interaction. Using ${}^{11}$Li, ${}^{11}$Be and ${}^8$B as examples we show that data require significantly larger matter radii than previously reported. The revised value for ${}^{11}$Li of 3.55 fm is consistent with three-body models with significant $1s$-intruder state components, which reproduce experimental ${}^9$Li momentum distributions following ${}^{11}$Li breakup, but were hitherto thought to be at variance with cross section data.

Comments: 8 pages RevTeX plus 5 Postscript figures. Figures also available at http://www.ph.surrey.ac.uk/scnp/jakpub/figures.html Scheduled tentatively for 13May96 issue of Phys. Rev. Lett