We use a three-body model to investigate breakup reactions of ${}^{11}\mathrm{Li}\hspace{0.5em}{(n+n+}^9\mathrm{Li})$ on a light target. The interaction parameters are constrained by known properties of the two-body subsystems, the ${}^{11}\mathrm{Li}$ binding energy and fragmentation data. The remaining degrees of freedom are discussed. The projectile-target interactions are described by phenomenological optical potentials. The model predicts dependence on beam energy and target, differences between longitudinal and transverse momentum distributions, and provides absolute values for all computed differential cross sections. We give an almost complete series of observables and compare with corresponding measurements. Remarkably good agreement is obtained. The relative neutron-${}^9\mathrm{Li}\hspace{0.5em}p$-wave content is about 40%. A p-resonance, consistent with measurements at about 0.5 MeV of width about 0.4 MeV, seems to be necessary. The widths of the momentum distributions are insensitive to target and beam energy with a tendency to increase towards lower energies. The transverse momentum distributions are broader than the longitudinal ones due to the diffraction process. The absolute values of the cross sections follow the neutron-target cross sections and increase strongly for beam energies decreasing below 100 MeV/nucleon.

• Received 5 November 1998

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.59.1272