Radii and Binding Energies in Helium and Oxygen Isotopes: A Puzzle for Nuclear Forces
Résumé
We discuss the importance of the root mean square matter radius as a key observable for testing the validity of the nuclear forces employed in nuclear structure calculations. The link between proton-nucleus scattering and radii is underlined, with the test case carried out for ^8He. When a systematic study of both nuclear radii and binding energies is feasible, as done in (even) oxygen isotopes from the valley of stability to the neutron drip line, we show that the combined comparison of measured radii and binding energies with ab initio calculations offers unique insight on input nuclear forces. The need to use newly developed interactions to improve the description of the radii is discussed.