Understanding effect of tensor interactions in light nuclei via high-momentum neutron-transfer reaction

The tensor interactions, which originate mainly from the pion exchange, are essential interactions that provide the most significant two-body attraction in nuclear interactions. Ab-initio calculations have suggested the importance of the tensor interactions for binding nuclei up to mass number A=12. However, while it is generally accepted that the tensor interactions play a dominant role in nuclei, experimental evidence has been scarce and was limited to the lightest nuclei up to ⁴He.

In our earlier work, we have reported possible observation of the effect of tensor interactions in ¹⁶O via measurement of high-momentum one-neutron transfer (p,d) reaction at finite angles up to 25 degrees [1]. To confirm the earlier observation, and to understand more quantitatively the effect of tensor interactions in light nuclei, we have performed several inclusive and exclusive measurements using high-momentum one-neutron transfer reactions at Research Center for Nuclear Physics (RCNP), Osaka University and GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung (GSI). In this talk, we will introduce our approach, the experiments at RCNP and GSI, and present some of the recent experimental results.

Reference:

[1] H.J. Ong, I. Tanihata et al., Phys. Lett. B725, 277 (2013).