Influence of Nuclear Forces on the Coulomb Barrier in Heavy-Ion Reactions

The influence of the Coulomb and nuclear forces on the Coulomb barrier in heavy-ion reactions is studied in a dynamical classical model. It is shown that the fusion barrier is smaller than the conventional Coulomb barrier of two underformed nuclei. The model yields a dynamical picture of the excitation mechanism of surface vibrations and giant resonances. It is suggested that-due to nuclear forces-the excitation of the octupole mode is strongly enhanced over the excitation of the quadrupole mode in experiments at the Coulomb barrier.