Nucleus-nucleus total reaction cross sections

We compare σR(E) for nucleus-nucleus systems (obtained from existing direct measurements and derived from elastic scattering data) with nucleon-nucleon and nucleon-nucleus data. The energy dependence of σR(E) for nucleus-nucleus systems is found to be quite rapid; there appears to be no evidence for an energy independent, geometric σR. Simple parameter free microscopic calculations are able to quantitatively reproduce the data and thus, emphasize the dominance of nucleon-nucleon interactions in medium energy nucleus-nucleus collisions.NUCLEAR REACTIONS Total reaction cross section theory, comparison to data for d, ³He, α+¹²C, ⁴⁰Ca, ⁹⁰Zr, ²⁰⁸Pb and ¹²C+¹²C. Predictions for ⁴⁰Ca+⁴⁰Ca, ⁴⁰Ca+²⁰⁸Pb, ²⁰⁸Pb+²⁰⁸Pb. Energy range 3<Ei/n<1000 MeV.