Abstract

This article aims at reviewing the present status of the understanding of the structure and reactions of neutron-rich nuclei. The properties of the low-lying soft giant dipole resonance in ¹¹Li are discussed within several models proposed for the purpose. The existence of this collective mode in heavier neutron-rich nuclei is considered. The question of the separation energy of a single neutron and a dineutron is discussed. The nuclear and Coulomb dissociation cross sections for ¹¹Li on several targets are calculated and compared to the available data. The question of the neutron halo is then considered in detail. The elastic scattering of ¹¹Li and other unstable nuclei on several stable targets (p, ²⁰⁸Pb, etc.) is discussed in detail. The signature of the halo on the elastic cross section σ _el is then assessed. Proposed experiments are discussed in the light of the theoretical prediction. The effect of the break-up channel ( 2 n + ⁹Li in¹¹Li) on σ_el is thoroughly analysed. The total reaction cross section and total nuclear reac tion cross section is also calculated using the microscopic tρ₁ρ₂-Glauber theory. The production of π's is considered and model calculations are performed. The low-energy fusion of neutron-rich nuclei with heavy targets is analysed. Having in mind the possibility that the low-lying soft giant-dipole resonance may greatly aid the system to fuse even at sub-barrier energies, the viability of produing superheavy elements are studied. The astrophysical implications of exotic nuclei are assessed and discussed. Finally, the momentum and angular distributions of fragments from ¹¹Li breakup are calculated and compared to the available data.