Total charge-changing cross sections for neutron-rich light nuclei

Total charge-changing cross sections at relativistic energies on a carbon t arget have been measured for the light stable and neutron-rich radioactive nuclei Be-14, B10-19, C12-20, N14-23, O16-24, and F18-27. A combined analys is of interaction and total charge-changing cross sections allows to draw d efinite conclusions concerning the thickness of the neutron skins or the si ze of the neutron halos for very neutron-rich isotopes. The obtained cross sections are also important in astrophysical applications to describe the p ropagation of galactic cosmic rays through the interstellar medium. A simpl e parameterization can reproduce the total charge-changing cross section wi thin an accuracy of 5% for light nuclei from the valley of beta-stability u p to the drip line. These systematics improve the predictive capability of the formulae used to describe the unknown cross sections, (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.