Neutron density distributions from antiprotonic atoms compared with hadron scattering data

The nuclear periphery was studied by using antiprotons. Two experimental methods were applied: analysis of the antiproton annihilation residues one mass unit lighter than the target mass by nuclear spectroscopy and the measurement of strong interaction effects on antiprotonic level widths and shifts. 26 isotopes from a wide range of mass numbers (40 < A < 238) were investigated. The gathered antiprotonic-atom data were compared with the results obtained using hadron scattering methods and with some expectations from theoretical approaches.