Polarization effects of hot nuclear matter on the fusion of heavy ions

Within the framework of the modified density-dependent Seyler–Blanchard approach in the [Formula: see text] approximation, the polarization effects of hot nuclear matter (PEHNM) are investigated on the fusion process of 16 different colliding systems in the mass range [Formula: see text]. In order to calculate the nucleus–nucleus potential, we use the double-folding (DF) model supplemented with the thermal effects of compound nucleus and also a repulsive potential that takes into account the incompressibility of the nuclear matter. The calculations of the fusion cross-sections are performed based on the couplings to the low-lying [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] vibrational states in both target and projectile. The sensitivity of sub-barrier fusion cross-sections to the polarization effects is evident from this study. The obtained results reveal that the modified form of the DF potential in the presence of the PEHNM appropriately reproduces the energy-dependent behavior of the experimental fusion cross-sections for the studied reactions. The role of the polarization effects on the fusion barriers as well as the inner part of the potential is also discussed.