QUASI-ELASTIC SCATTERING OF B-8 AND BE-7 ON C-12 AT 40 MEV NUCLEON/

The quasielastic scattering of the exotic nucleus B-8 on a C-12 target has been studied at an energy of 320 MeV and compared with that of Be -7 at the same velocity. The quasielastic scattering of C-12+C-12 at 2 0 MeV/nucleon, also performed as a secondary beam experiment, was used to check the data reduction method. The results are interpreted in te rms of a semimicroscopic double folding model and coupled-channels cal culation. The difference in the total reaction cross section (8%) betw een B-8 and Be-7 is consistent with the measured one proton removal cr oss section and corresponds to an increase in the interaction radius o f 4%. The existence of a substantial proton halo in B-8 is not support ed by the present data.