Dynamical effects on the parallel momentum distributions of neutrons from halo breakup

In this paper we study the energy spectra and related parallel momentum distributions of the neutrons from the breakup of Be-11. Earlier papers on transfer to the continuum reactions have shown that the breakup amplitude reduces to a simple eikonal approximation in the limit of weakly bound projectiles. The aim is to establish a reliable method to obtain information on the structure of the halo from the experimental results which depend on the reaction mechanism. Theoretical results for the widths of the parallel momentum distributions and for the total breakup cross section are compared to recent experimental data. [S0556-2813(98)01111-X].