Systematic study of proximity potentials for heavy-ion fusion cross sections

Within the framework of the empirical barrier distribution model (EBDM) introduced in our previous work (Wang et al. [20]), we have carried out a comprehensive theoretical study to find the best proximity potentials for reproducing the fusion excitation functions in 99 colliding systems with the condition 15 <= Z(1) Z(2) <= 1804 for the charge product of their participant nuclei. Coulomb barrier heights applied for EBDM approach are determined by 14 different versions of phenomenological proximity potentials. Comparing fusion cross sections by theoretical results and corresponding experimental data for our selected mass range suggests that the EBDM with proximity potential 1977 (Prox. 77) provides the best description for fusion data at above- and below-barrier energies. A comparison is also performed with the theoretical results based on the coupled-channel calculations. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.