Detailed characterization of neutron-proton equilibration in dynamically deformed nuclear systems

Abstract

We study neutron-proton equilibration in dynamically deformed nuclear systems by investigating the correlations between the two largest fragments produced in collisions of $^{70}\mathrm{Zn}+^{70}\mathrm{Zn}$, $^{64}\mathrm{Zn}+^{64}\mathrm{Zn}$, $^{64}\mathrm{Ni}+^{64}\mathrm{Ni}$ and $^{64}\mathrm{Zn}+^{64}\mathrm{Ni}$ at $35\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}\mathrm{MeV}$ per nucleon. The extent of equilibration is investigated using the rotation angle as a clock for the equilibration. The initially dissimilar fragments converge exponentially with consistent rate constants across a wide variety of reaction partners and systems, indicating that the equilibration follows first-order kinetics.