Role of cluster configurations in the elastic scattering of light projectiles on $$^{58}$$Ni and $$^{64}$$Zn targets: a phenomenological analysis: A tribute to Mahir S. Hussein

Motivated by the strong synergy between structure and nuclear reactions we have performed a phenomenological analysis using available elastic scattering data for collisions of tightly-bound ( $$^{10}\hbox {Be}$$ , $$^{10}\hbox {B}$$ , $$^{10}\hbox {C}$$ , $$^{11}\hbox {B}$$ , $$^{12}\hbox {C}$$ , $$^{16}\hbox {O}$$ ), weakly-bound ( $$^6\hbox {Li}$$ , $$^7\hbox {Li}$$ , $$^8\hbox {Li}$$ , $$^9\hbox {Be}$$ ), and exotic ( $$^6\hbox {He}$$ , $$^{8}\hbox {B}$$ and $$^{11}\hbox {Be}$$ ) nuclei on $$^{58}\hbox {Ni}$$ and $$^{64}\hbox {Zn}$$ targets at energies close to the Coulomb barrier. After a proper reduction, the cluster configuration and dynamics effects in the total reaction cross section are discussed. Also, an approach based on the interaction distances is used to investigate static and dynamic effects in the elastic scattering of light nuclei. A correlation between the critical interaction distance and binding energy for a given configuration is observed.