Large enhancement of the sub-barrier fusion probability for a halo nucleus

The fusion-fission cross sections of the He-4 + U-238 and He-6 + U-238 systems have been measured, at Louvain-la-Neuve, for energies around and below the Coulomb barrier, using an array of Si detectors surrounding a UF4 target. The data taken with 4He are in good agreement with previous data and with the coupled channel fusion calculation performed with ECIS. The He-6 data show a regular trend with a large enhancement below the barrier which is attributed to the halo structure of the He-6 nucleus.