Combining Halo-EFT Descriptions of Nuclei and Precise Models of Nuclear Reactions

The clear separation of scales observed in halo nuclei between the extended halo and the compact core makes these exotic nuclei a perfect subject for effective field theory (EFT). Such description leads to a systematic expansion of the core-halo Hamiltonian, which naturally orders the nuclear-structure observables. In this short review, I show the advantages there are to include Halo-EFT descriptions within precise models of reactions. It helps identifying the nuclear-structure observables that matter in the description of the reactions, and enables us to easily bridge predictions of nuclear-structure calculations to reaction observables. I illustrate this on breakup, transfer and knockout reactions with $$^{11}$$ 11 Be, the archetypical one-neutron halo nucleus.

Low energy reactions of halo nuclei

Halo nuclei are extreme nuclear states consisting of one or more weakly-bound valence nucleons spatially decoupled from a tightly bound nuclear core. The weakly bound nature of the halo dominates the reaction probability, but the specific reaction mechanisms depend also on the core and target nuclei. Despite of the inherent complexity of the reaction process, simple two-body models and direct reaction theories can be used to extract useful information of the structure of the halo nucleus and its dynamics. These ideas are discussed using selected experiments of Coulomb barrier reactions with one- and two- neutron halo systems.