Information content of the differences in the charge radii of mirror nuclei

Journal Article · 02 February 2022 · Physical Review. C

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevc.105.l021301 · OSTI ID:1871671

Reinhard, Paul-Gerhard  ^[1]; Nazarewicz, Witold  ^[2]

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1. Univ. Erlangen (Germany); FRIB/MSU
2. Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI (United States)

Differences in the charge radii of mirror nuclei have been recently suggested to contain information on the slope of the symmetry energy L. To test this hypothesis, we perform statistical correlation analysis using quantified energy density functionals that are consistent with our previous knowledge on global nuclear observables such as binding energies and charge radii. We conclude that the difference in charge radii between a mirror pair, $ΔR$$$$^{mir}_{ch}$$, is an inferior isovector indicator compared to other observables, such at the neutron skin or electric dipole polarizability α_D. In particular, this quantity correlates poorly with both the neutron skin and L. Here, we demonstrate that $ΔR$$$$^{mir}_{ch}$$ is influenced by pairing correlations in the presence of low-lying proton continuum in the proton-rich mirror-partner nucleus. Considering the large theoretical uncertainties on $ΔR$$$$^{mir}_{ch}$$, we conclude that the precise data on mirror charge radii cannot provide a stringent constraint on L.

• Research Organization: Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Nuclear Physics (NP)
• Grant/Contract Number: SC0013365; SC0018083
• OSTI ID: 1871671
• Journal Information: Physical Review. C, Journal Name: Physical Review. C Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 105; ISSN 2469-9985
• Publisher: American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English