Quasielastic scattering of {sup 8}B and {sup 7}Be on {sup 12}C at 40 MeV/nucleon

The quasielastic scattering of the exotic nucleus {sup 8}B on a {sup 12}C target has been studied at an energy of 320 MeV and compared with that of {sup 7}Be at the same velocity. The quasielastic scattering of {sup 12}C + {sup 12}C at 20 MeV/nucleon, also performed as a secondary beam experiment, was used to check the data reduction method. The results are interpreted in terms of a semimicroscopic double folding model and coupled-channels calculation. The difference in the total reaction cross section (8%) between {sup 8}B and {sup 7}Be is consistent with the measured one proton removal cross section and corresponds to an increase in the interaction radius of 4%. The existence of a substantial proton halo in {sup 8}B is not supported by the present data.