A new analysis method to investigate halos in finite many-fermion systems is designed, as existing characterization methods are proven to be incomplete/inaccurate. A decomposition of the internal wave-function of the $N$-body system in terms of overlap functions allows a model-independent analysis of medium-range and asymptotic properties of the internal one-body density. The existence of a spatially decorrelated region in the density profile is related to the existence of three typical energy scales in the excitation spectrum of the $(N-1)$-body system. A series of model-independent measures, taking the internal density as the only input, are introduced. The new measures allow a quantification of the potential halo in terms of the average number of fermions participating to it and of its impact on the system extension. Those new “halo factors” are validated through simulations and applied to results obtained through energy density functional calculations of medium-mass nuclei. Performing spherical Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov calculations with state-of-the-art Skyrme plus pairing functionals, a collective halo is predicted in drip-line Cr isotopes, whereas no such effect is seen in Sn isotopes.

• Received 8 November 2007

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.79.054308