Calculation of the real part of the interaction potential between two heavy ions in the sudden approximation

Abstract We have calculated the interaction potential between two heavy ions using the energy density formalism and Fermi distributions for the nuclear densities. The experimental fusion barriers are rather well reproduced. The conditions for the observation of fusion between two heavy ions are discussed. As far as the nuclear part of the interaction potential is concerned, the proximity scaling is investigated in detail. It is found that the proximity theorem is satisfied to a good extent. However, as far as the neutron excess is concerned, disagreement with the proximity potential is observed.