NUCLEAR SUB-STRUCTURE IN 112–122Ba NUCLEI WITHIN RELATIVISTIC MEAN FIELD THEORY

Working within the framework of relativistic mean field theory, we study for the first time the clustering structure (nuclear sub-structure) of 112–122Ba nuclei in an axially deformed cylindrical coordinate. We calculate the individual neutrons and protons density distributions for Ba-isotopes. From the analysis of the clustering configurations in total (neutrons-plus-protons) density distributions for various shapes of both the ground and excited states, we find different sub-structures inside the Ba nuclei considered here. The important step, carried out here for the first time, is the counting of number of protons and neutrons present in the clustering region(s). 12C is shown to constitute the cluster configuration in prolate-deformed ground-states of 112–116Ba and oblate-deformed first excited states of 118–122Ba nuclei. Presence of other lighter clusters such as 2H, 3H and nuclei in the neighborhood of N = Z, 14N, 34–36Cl, 36Ar and 42Ca are also indicated in the ground and excited states of these nuclei. Cases with no cluster configuration are shown for 112–116Ba in their first and second excited states. All these results are of interest for the observed intermediate-mass-fragments and fusion–fission processes, and the so far unobserved evaporation residues from the decaying Ba* compound nuclei formed in heavy ion reactions.