$^{86}$Ni: Possible doubly-magic nucleus with neutron halo

Abstract

Self-consistent mean-field calculations with semi-realistic interactions have predicted that $N=58$ becomes a magic number near Ni, where the $n2s_{1/2}$ orbit is the highest occupied state. As the last neutrons occupy the shallowly bound $s$-orbit, $^{86}$Ni can be highly distinctive, being a doubly-magic nucleus and possessing a neutron halo simultaneously. With minimal ambiguity in the many-body wave function, it may provide a unique opportunity to investigate, \textit{e.g.}, reaction mechanisms in halo nuclei. As an example, we present differential cross sections for proton elastic scattering predicted via a folding potential without local approximations, and compare them with those obtained using an empirical potential.