Electron scattering on halo nuclei

Abstract

The inelastic scattering of electrons on weakly-bound nuclei is studied with a simple model based on the long range behavior of the bound state wavefunction and on the effective-range expansion for the continuum wavefunctions. Three mechanisms have been considered: (a) dissociation of halo nuclei by high energy electrons, (b) dissociation by electrons present in a fixed target, and (c) Coulomb dissociation. It is shown that the properties of halo nuclei can be studied in electron-radioactive beam colliders using the electro-disintegration process. A comparison with fixed-target experiments is also performed.