Prominence of Pairing in Inclusive (p,2p) and (p,pn) Cross Sections from Neutron-Rich Nuclei
7 pags. 4 figs. ; Fifty-five inclusive single nucleon-removal cross sections from medium mass neutron-rich nuclei impinging on a hydrogen target at ∼250 MeV/nucleon are measured at the RIKEN Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory. Systematically higher cross sections are found for proton removal from nuclei with an even number of protons as compared to odd-proton number projectiles for a given neutron separation energy. Neutron removal cross sections display no even-odd splitting, contrary to nuclear cascade model predictions. Both effects are understood through simple considerations of neutron separation energies and bound state level densities originating in pairing correlations in the daughter nuclei. These conclusions are supported by comparison with semimicroscopic model predictions, highlighting the enhanced role of low-lying level densities in nucleon-removal cross sections from loosely bound nuclei. ; We express our gratitude to the RIKEN Nishina Center accelerator staff for providing the stable and high-intensity uranium beam . A. O. thanks the European Research Council for its support through ERC Grant No. MINOS-258567, the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science for the long-term fellowship L-13520, the German DFG SFB Grant No. 1245, and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. C. S. acknowledges support by the IPA program at the RIKEN Nishina Center. C. A. B. acknowledges support by U.S. Department of Energy Grant No. DE-FG02- 08ER41533 and U.S. National Science Foundation Grant No. 1415656. J. L. R.-S. acknowledges support by the Regional Government of Galicia under the program of postdoctoral fellowships. K. M. acknowledges support from German BMBF Grant No. 05P15PKFNA. M. L. C., M. L., and V. W. acknowledge support from German BMBF Grants No. 05P12RDFN8, No. 05P15RDFN1, and No. 05P12RDFN8, as well as DFG Grant No. SFB 1245. L. X. C. and B. D. L. are supported by the Vietnam MOST through Physics Development Program Grant No. ĐTĐLCN.25/18 and acknowledge the Radioactive Isotope Physics Laboratory of the RIKEN Nishina Center for supporting their stay during the experiment. A. J. and V. V. acknowledge support from the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad under Contract No. FPA2014-57196-C5-4-P. U.K. participants acknowledge support from the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). Collaborators from I. M. P. were supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.