Studying the proton rms radii of Li and B isotopes through elastic scattering*

Abstract The root mean square (rms) nuclear proton radii of 6,7,8 Li and 10,11 B projectiles are systematically investigated by analyzing elastic scattering data from target nuclei with mass numbers ranging from 40 to 209 at incident energies exceeding Coulomb barriers. The analyses employ a consistent single-folding model potential based on the Bruyères Jeukenne-Lejeune-Mahaux (JLMB) nucleon-nucleus interaction model, incorporating 112 sets of elastic scattering data to derive the projectile nuclear radii. This approach yields individual radii for each set, from which the mean rms proton radius is extracted as a characteristic parameter for the projectile nuclei. The rms proton radii of 6,7 Li and 10,11 B nuclei, obtained from optical model fits, demonstrate good agreement with experimental measurements and existing theoretical predictions. Notably, a significantly smaller nuclear radius of 8 Li is observed compared to values derived from intermediate-energy proton elastic scattering cross-section measurements, which may be attributed to additional dynamical effects specific to the 8 Li projectile.