Improved nucleus–nucleus folding potential with a repulsive core due to the change of intrinsic kinetic energy

Abstract

The change in the internal kinetic energy (KE) of two interacting nuclei grows by increasing their density overlap. We investigated to what extent the double-folding potential based on the density dependent M3Y nucleon–nucleon interaction can be improved by considering this repulsive KE. We adopted the α-decay of , the 24Ne decay of 232U, and the fusion cross section as examples of reactions involving density redistribution. We performed the α and cluster decay calculations based on solving the Schrödinger equation to find the wavefunction and the penetration probability. Upon normalizing the calculated KE by applying the Bohr–Sommerfeld quantization condition, the necessary missed pocket is physically developed in the internal region of the total folding potential. The folding potential improved by considering the pivotal repulsive KE reduced the uncertainty inherent in the decay calculations at small internuclear distances. The calculated fusion cross section is substantially improved and its steep falloff at sub-barrier energies is reasonably reproduced.