2024/08/28 by M. C. Atkinson, W. H. Dickhoff, Atkinson, M. C. +1
Physics and Astronomy · #Atomic and Subatomic Physics Research #FOS: Physical sciences #Nuclear Physics and Applications #Nuclear Theory (nucl-th) #Quantum, superfluid, helium dynamics
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2408.16097
openalex publication_date 2024/08/28 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
An overview is presented of neutron skin predictions obtained using an empirical nonlocal dispersive optical model (DOM). The DOM links both scattering and bound-state experimental data through a subtracted dispersion relation which allows for fully-consistent, data-informed predictions for nuclei where such data exists. Large skins were predicted for both 48Ca (R48_\textrmskin=0.25 ± 0.023 fm in 2017) and 208Pb (R208_\textrmskin=0.25 ± 0.05 fm in 2020). While the DOM prediction in 208Pb is within 1σ of the subsequent PREX-2 measurement, the DOM prediction in 48Ca is over 2σ larger than the thin neutron skin resulting from CREX. From the moment it was revealed, the thin skin in 48Ca has puzzled the nuclear-physics community as no adequate theories simultaneously predict both a large skin in 208Pb and a small skin in 48Ca. The DOM is unique in its ability to treat both structure and reaction data on the same footing, providing a unique perspective on this R_\textrmskin puzzle. It appears vital that more neutron data be measured in both the scattering and bound-state domain for 48Ca to clarify the situation.