Repulsive aspects of pairing correlation in nuclear fusion reaction

Abstract

Numerical simulation on nuclear collisions are performed using the canonical-basis time-dependent Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov theory (Cb-TDHFB) in the three-dimensional coordinate space. Comparing results of the Cb-TDHFB and the conventional time-dependent Hartree-Fock (TDHF) calculations, we study effects of the pairing correlation on fusion reaction of $^{22}$O+$^{22}$O, $^{52}$Ca+$^{52}$Ca, and $^{22}$O+$^{52}$Ca, using the Skyrme SkM$^*$ functional and a contact-type pairing energy functional. Although current results are yet preliminary, they may suggest that the pairing correlation could hinder the fusion probability at energies in the vicinity of the Coulomb barrier height. We also perform a calculation for heavier nuclei, $^{96}$Zn+$^{124}$Sn, which seems to suggest a similar hindrance effect.