A possible probe to neutron-skin thickness by fragment parallel momentum distribution in projectile fragmentation reactions

In the framework of the Lanzhou Quantum Molecular Dynamics (LQMD) model, a possible probe to the neutron-skin thickness (δnp) of neutron-rich 48Ca is studied in 140A MeV 48Ca + 9Be projectile fragmentation reaction based on parallel momentum distribution (p||) of residual fragments.The Fermi-type density distribution is employed to initiate the neutron density distributions in the LQMD simulation. A combined Gaussian function with different width parameters for the left side (ΓL) and the right side (ΓR) in distribution are used to describe the p|| of residual fragments.

The value of ΓL, taking neutron-rich sulfur isotopes as examples, shows a sensitive correlation to δnp of 48Ca, which is suggested to be a probe to determine the neutron-skin thickness of the projectile nucleus.