Isospin in Reaction Dynamics. The Case of Dissipative Collisions at Fermi Energies

Abstract

A key question in the physics of unstable nuclei is the knowledge of the $EOS$ for asymmetric nuclear matter ($ANM$) away from normal conditions. We recall that the symmetry energy at low densities has important effects on the neutron skin structure, while the knowledge in high densities region is crucial for supernovae dynamics and neutron star properties. The $only$ way to probe such region of the isovector $EOS$ in terrestrial laboratories is through very dissipative collisions of asymmetric (up to exotic) heavy ions from low to relativistic energies. A general introduction to the topic is firstly presented. We pass then to a detailed discussion on the $neck-fragmentation$ process as the main dissipative mechanism at the Fermi energies and to the related isospin dynamics. From Stochastic Mean Field simulations the isospin effects on all the phases of the reaction dynamics are thoroughly analysed, from the fast nucleon emission to the mid-rapidity fragment formation up to the dynamical fission of the $spectator$ residues. Simulations have been performed with an increasing stiffness of the symmetry term of the $EOS$. Some differences have been noticed, especially for the fragment charge asymmetry. New isospin effects have been revealed from the correlation of fragment asymmetry with dynamical quantities at the freeze-out time. A series of isospin sensitive observables to be further measured are finally listed.