A study of nuclear radii and neutron skin thickness of neutron-rich nuclei near the neutron drip line

Abstract

We studied the charge radius ($r_{c}$), neutron radius ($r_n$), and neutron skin-thickness ($\Delta r=r_n-r_p$) over a chain of isotopes from C to Zr with the stable region to the neutron drip line. Theoretical calculations are done with axially deformed self-consistent relativistic mean-field theory (RMF) with effective nonlinear NL3 and NL3* interactions. The theoretically estimated values are compared with available experimental data and a reasonable agreement are noted. We additionally assessed the two-neutron separation energy ($S_{2n}$) to mark the drip line nuclei of the considered isotopic series. In the reference of $S_{2n}$, neutron magicity is also discussed. The calculated neutron radii are compared with empirical estimation made by $r=r_0N^{1/3}$ to examine the abnormal trend of the radius for neutron drip line nuclei. In view to guide the long tails, the density distribution for some skin candidates is analyzed. Finally, neutron skin thickness is observed for the whole considered isotopic series.