Neutron/proton ratio of nucleon emissions as a probe of neutron skin

The dependence between neutron-to-proton yield ratio (R(np)) and neutron skin thickness (delta(np)) in neutron-rich projectile induced reactions is investigated within the framework of the Isospin-Dependent Quantum Molecular Dynamics (IQMD) model. The density distribution of the Droplet model is embedded in the initialization of the neutron and proton densities in the present IQMD model. By adjusting the diffuseness parameter of neutron density in the Droplet model for the projectile, the relationship between the neutron skin thickness and the corresponding R(np) in the collisions is obtained. The results show strong linear correlation between R(np) and delta(np) for neutron-rich Ca and Ni isotopes. It is suggested that R(np) may be used as an experimental observable to extract delta(np) for neutron-rich nuclei, which is very significant to the study of the nuclear structure of exotic nuclei and the equation of state (EOS) of asymmetric nuclear matter. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.