Investigation of the ^{10}Li shell inversion by neutron continuum transfer reaction.

Area of Science:

• Nuclear Physics
• Exotic Nuclei Research
• Quantum Chromodynamics

Background:

• The structure of the exotic nucleus Lithium-10 (10Li) is highly debated.
• Understanding 10Li provides insights into nuclear forces and the limits of nuclear stability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the structure of 10Li.
• To determine the energy and characteristics of 10Li resonances.
• To clarify the role of different partial waves (s-wave, p-wave) in 10Li.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the d(9Li,p)10Li one-neutron transfer reaction at 100 MeV.
• Measured the 10Li energy spectrum up to 4.6 MeV.
• Recorded angular distributions for different excitation energy regions for the first time.

Main Results:

• Identified a p1/2 resonance at 0.45 ± 0.03 MeV excitation energy.
• Observed no significant s-wave contribution near the threshold energy.
• Populated two high-lying structures at 1.5 MeV and 2.9 MeV.
• Angular distributions suggest a significant s1/2 partial-wave contribution for the 1.5 MeV structure.
• Indicated a mixing of configurations at higher energies, with d5/2 contributing most to the cross section.

Conclusions:

• The study confirms the existence of a p1/2 resonance in 10Li.
• The findings challenge previous assumptions about s-wave dominance near the threshold.
• Provides new data on the complex structure of exotic nuclei like 10Li.