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Results for “Impulse Approximation”

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At least 19 records

The Impulse Approximation Scattering Function and Its Use in Monte Carlo Photon Transport Simulations

The viability of using the impulse approximation scattering function in Monte Carlo photon transport simulations is explored. This scattering function can be constructed from the double differential incoherent scattering cross section developed by Ribberfors and Berggren. A commonly used method for modeling photon Doppler broadening, which is referred to as the hybrid Doppler broadening method, can also be derived from this cross section. A new photon Doppler broadening method, called the consistent Doppler broadening method, is derived and discussed. This method eliminates some of the commonly employed approximations in the hybrid Doppler broadening method, in part, by using the impulse approximation scattering function. Integrated incoherent cross sections generated using the impulse approximation scattering function and the widely used Waller-Hartree scattering function are in good agreement above 20 keV. Below 20 keV, differences as high as 70% are observed, which differs from the roughly 5% differences observed by Ribberfors for some of the materials. Integral and spectral quantities for two problems are also generated using the Monte Carlo photon transport capabilities of the Framework for REsearch in Nuclear ScIence and Engineering (FRENSIE). Due to the small, relative result differences observed when using the impulse approximation scattering function, it is considered a viable alternative to the Waller-Hartree scattering function. In addition, some small, but expected, differences in spectral fluxes at low energies can be avoided by adopting the consistent Doppler broadening method.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Assessing the theory-data tension in neutrino-induced charged pion production: the effect of final-state nucleon distortion

Pion production on nuclei constitutes a significant part of the total cross section in experiments involving few-GeV neutrinos. Combined analyses of data on deuterium and heavier nuclei points to tensions between the bubble chamber data and the data of the MINER$\nu$A experiment, which are often ascribed to unspecified nuclear effects. To understand the origin of these tensions, a microscopic quantum mechanical framework is needed to compute nuclear matrix elements. We use the local approximation to the relativistic distorted wave impulse approximation (RDWIA) to assess the role of final-state nucleon distortion. To perform this comparison under conditions relevant to neutrino experiments, we compute cross sections for the MINER$\nu$A and T2K charged pion production datasets. The inclusion of nucleon distortion leads to a reduction of the cross section up to 10%, but to no significant change in shape of the flux-averaged cross sections. Results with and without distortion compare favorably to experimental data, with the exception of the low-$Q^2$ MINER$\nu$A $\pi^+$ data. We point out that hydrogen target data from BEBC is also overpredicted at low-$Q^2$, and that the discrepancy is similar in shape and magnitude to what is found in comparison to MINER$\nu$A data. Including nucleon distortion alone cannot explain the overprediction of low-$Q^2$ cross sections measured by MINER$\nu$A. The similar overprediction of BEBC data on hydrogen means that it is impossible to ascribe this discrepancy solely to a nuclear effect. Axial couplings and their $Q^2$ dependence should ideally be derived from more precise data on hydrogen and deuterium.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Learning from knockout reactions using a dispersive optical model

We present the empirical dispersive optical model (DOM) as applied to direct nuclear reactions. The DOM links both scattering and bound-state experimental data through a dispersion relation, which allows for fully consistent, data-informed predictions for nuclei where such data exist. In particular, we review investigations of the electron-induced proton knockout reaction from both 40 Ca and 48 Ca in a distorted-wave impulse approximation (DWIA) utilizing the DOM for a fully consistent description. Viewing these reactions through the lens of the DOM allows us to connect the documented quenching of spectroscopic factors with the increased high-momentum proton content in neutron-rich nuclei. A similar DOM-DWIA description of the proton-induced knockout from 40 Ca, however, does not currently fit in the consistent story of its electron-induced counterpart. With the main difference in the proton-induced case being the use of an effective proton–proton interaction, we suggest that a more sophisticated in-medium interaction would produce consistent results.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

{phi} Meson Photoproduction on the Nucleon and 4He Targets

We study the reaction mechanism of phi-meson photoproduction on the nucleon and He-4 targets by using a dynamical model based on a Hamiltonian. In addition to the dominant contribution of the Pomeron exchange, various meson exchanges are considered in the t channel to describe the CLAS data in the low energy region root s =(1.97-2.84) GeV. The direct phi radiations are taken into account in the s- and u-channels. The backward structures at root s approximate to 2.1 and 2.3 GeV are well reproduced by the inclusion of the s-channel N(2000,5/2(+)) and N(2300,1/2(+))resonances, respectively. We also consider the final phi N interactions by the gluon exchange, the direct phi N interactions, and the box diagrams arising from the couplings with the pi N, rho N, K Lambda, and K Sigma channels. The effects of the final state interactions are found to be very weak. Then the resulting Hamiltonian is used to study the coherent gamma He-4 -> phi He-4 reaction within the distorted-weave impulse approximation. The calculated differential cross sections account for the LEPS data quite well.

Kim, Sang-Ho↗

Quasielastic $\overrightarrow{^{3}He}$ $(\overrightarrow{e},e′)$ asymmetry in the threshold region with a longitudinally polarized target

We report on the measurements of the double-spin asymmetry from electron- 3 He scattering in the threshold region of two- and three-body breakup of 3 He for 4-momentum transfer values of 0.1 and 0.2 (GeV/c) 2 . The measurement was done at Jefferson Lab using a polarized 3 He target with its spin aligned parallel to the beam direction. This asymmetry is sensitive to a combination of spin-dependent response functions not previously measured and may highlight differences in two body forces, meson-exchange currents and final-state interactions. The results of this measurement serve as a test of our understanding of few-body systems. When compared with calculations from plane wave impulse approximation and Faddeev calculations, we found that the latter, which use modern nuclear potentials and prescriptions for meson-exchange currents, demonstrate an overall good agreement with data.

Few-body nuclei↗

Self-similar Reynolds-averaged mechanical–scalar turbulence models for reshocked Richtmyer–Meshkov instability-induced mixing in the small Atwood number limit

Analytical self-similar solutions to two-, three-, and four-equation Reynolds-averaged mechanical–scalar turbulence models describing incompressible turbulent Richtmyer–Meshkov instability-induced mixing in planar geometry derived in the small Atwood number limit are extended to construct models for reshocked Richtmyer–Meshkov mixing. In this study, the models are based on the turbulent kinetic energy K and its dissipation rate ε, together with the scalar variance S and its dissipation rate χ modeled either differentially or algebraically. The three- and four-equation models allow for a simultaneous description of mechanical and scalar mixing, i.e., mixing layer growth and molecular mixing. Mixing layer growth parameters and other physical observables were obtained explicitly as functions of the model coefficients and were used to calibrate the model coefficients. Here, the solutions for the singly shocked Richtmyer–Meshkov case for the mixing layer width and the turbulent fields are used to construct piecewise-continuous generalizations of these quantities for times after reshock. For generality, the post-reshock mixing layer width is not assumed to grow with the same power-law as the pre-reshock width, and an impulsive approximation applied to Rayleigh–Taylor instability growth is used to establish the expression for the post-reshock width. A four-equation model is then used to illustrate the spatiotemporal behavior of the mean and turbulent fields and late-time turbulent equation budgets across the mixing layer. The reference solutions derived here can provide systematic calibrations and better understanding of mechanical–scalar turbulence models and their predictions for reshocked Richtmyer–Meshkov instability-induced turbulent mixing in the very large Reynolds number limit.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Quantum stress and torsion distributions in the deuteron

Stress distributions in the deuteron are related to form factors of the asymmetric energy-momentum tensor through three-dimensional Fourier transforms. There are eleven such form factors, which we calculate in an impulse approximation. We compare the obtained form factors to prior results for the six form factors that have been previously calculated. We then elaborate on the formalism for relating the form factors to internal distributions of mass, mass flux, momentum, stresses, and forces, and obtain results for all of these distributions. We obtain the principal stresses for the symmetric part of the stress tensor, and show that the antisymmetric part describes the reorientation of fermion spin by torsion stress when the nucleon moves between the S and D waves. Force distributions in the nucleons depend on the so-called nonconserved form factors through the Cauchy momentum equation, and are nonradial owing to the presence of tensor forces and spin-orbit coupling.

QCD phenomenology↗

Semi-inclusive deep-inelastic scattering on a polarized spin-1 target. II. Deuteron and spectator nucleon tagging

We develop the theoretical framework for semi-inclusive deep-inelastic scattering on a polarized spin-1 target and apply it to scattering on the polarized deuteron with spectator nucleon tagging. In Part I (previous article), we present the general form of the semi-inclusive cross section and polarization observables for the spin-1 target. In Part II (this article), we consider deep-inelastic scattering on the polarized deuteron with spectator nucleon tagging as a special case of target fragmentation. Methods of light-front quantization are employed to separate nuclear and hadronic structure in the high-energy process and achieve a composite description. The light-front wave function of the polarized deuteron is obtained from a rotationally covariant three-dimensional wave function in the center-of-mass frame of the proton-neutron system. The tagged structure functions are computed in the impulse approximation. The momentum and spin distribution of the active nucleon are controlled by the deuteron polarization and the detected spectator momentum (𝐷/𝑆 wave ratio). The cross section and spin asymmetries are evaluated for general deuteron polarization (vector and tensor, longitudinal and transverse) as functions of the spectator momentum. Tensor-polarized spin asymmetries of order unity are achieved for spectator momenta of approximately 300 MeV, which select configurations with a large 𝐷 wave. Sum rules for the tagged spin structure functions are derived. The results can be used for simulations of spectator tagging in future polarized fixed-target experiments (Jefferson Lab) or at the Electron-Ion Collider.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Measurement of the Ar ( e , e ' p ) and Ti ( e , e ' p ) cross sections in Jefferson Lab Hall A

The E12-14-012 experiment, performed in Jefferson Lab Hall A, has collected exclusive electron-scattering data ( e , e ' p ) in parallel kinematics using natural argon and natural titanium targets. In this study we report the first results of the analysis of the data set corresponding to beam energy 2222 GeV, electron scattering angle 21 . 5 ° , and proton emission angle – 50 ° . The differential cross sections, measured with ≈ 4 % uncertainty, have been studied as a function of missing energy and missing momentum, and compared to the results of Monte Carlo simulations, obtained from a model based on the distorted-wave impulse approximation.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Dynamical model of φ meson photoproduction on the nucleon and 4 He

We investigate φ meson photoproduction on the nucleon and the 4 He targets within a dynamical model approach based on a Hamiltonian which describes the production mechanisms by the Pomeron-exchange, meson-exchanges, φ radiations, and nucleon resonance excitations mechanisms. The final φN interactions are included being described by the gluon-exchange, direct φN couplings, and the box-diagrams arising from the couplings with πN, ρN, KΛ, and KΣ channels. The parameters of the Hamiltonian are determined by the experimental data of γp → φp from the CLAS Collaboration. The resulting Hamiltonian is then used to predict the coherent φ-meson production on the 4 He targets by using the distorted-wave impulse approximation. For the proton target, the final φN rescattering effects, as required by the unitarity condition, are found to be very weak, which supports the earlier calculations in the literature. For the 4 He targets, the predicted differential cross sections are in good agreement with the data obtained by the LEPS Collaboration. Furthermore, the role of each mechanism in this reaction is discussed and predictions for a wide range of scattering angles are presented, which can be tested in future experiments.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Probing for high-momentum protons in He 4 via the He 4 ( e , e ' p ) X reactions

Experimental cross sections for the $^4He(e,e'p)X$ reaction up to a missing momentum of 0.632 GeV/$c$ at $x_B=1.24$ and $Q^2$=2(GeV/$c$)$^2$ are reported. The data are compared to Relativistic Distorted Wave Impulse Approximation(RDWIA) calculations for $^4He(e,e'p)^3H$ channel. Significantly more events in the triton mass region are measured for $p_{m}$$>$0.45 GeV/$c$ than are predicted by the theoretical model, suggesting that the effects of initial-state multi-nucleon correlations are stronger than expected by the RDWIA model.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Theoretical analysis of the extraction of neutron skin thickness from coherent π 0 photoproduction off nuclei

Background: Coherent π⁢ 0 photoproduction on heavy nuclei has been suggested as a reliable tool to infer neutron skin thicknesses. To this aim, various experiments have been performed, especially on 208 Pb. Purpose: Here, we analyze the sensitivity of that reaction process to the nucleonic density, and especially to the neutron skin thickness, for 12 C, 40 Ca, and 208 Pb, for which reliable data exist, and on 116,124 Sn, for which measurements have been performed in Mainz. We study also the role played by the π 0 -nucleus final-state interaction. Methods: A model of the reaction is developed at the impulse approximation considering either plane waves or distorted waves to describe the π 0 -nucleus scattering in the outgoing channel. Results: Our calculations are in good agreement with existing data, especially for 208 Pb. The sensitivity of the theoretical cross sections to the choice of the nucleonic density is small and below the experimental resolution. Conclusions: Coherent π 0 photoproduction is mostly an isoscalar observable that bares no practical sensitivity to the neutron skin thickness. To infer that structure observable it should be coupled to other reaction measurements, such as electron scattering, or by comparing experiments performed on isotopes of the same chemical element.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Ab initio calculation of the β-decay spectrum of 6 He

Here, we calculate the β spectrum in the decay of 6 He using quantum Monte Carlo methods with nuclear interactions derived from chiral effective field theory and consistent weak vector and axial currents. We work at second order in the multipole expansion, retaining terms suppressed by O(q 2 /m$^{2}_{π}$), where q denotes low-energy scales such as the reaction’s Q value or the electron energy, and m π is the pion mass. We go beyond the impulse approximation by including the effects of two-body vector and axial currents. We estimate the theoretical error on the spectrum by using four potential models in the Norfolk family of local two- and three-nucleon interactions, which have different cutoffs, fit two-nucleon data up to different energies, and use different observables to determine the couplings in the three-body force. We find the theoretical uncertainty on the β spectrum, normalized by the total rate, to be well below the permille level, and to receive contributions of comparable size from first- and second-order corrections in the multipole expansion. We consider corrections to the β decay spectrum induced by beyond-standard-model charged-current interactions in the standard model effective field theory, with and without sterile neutrinos, and discuss the sensitivity of the next generation of experiments to these interactions.

6 ≤ A ≤ 19↗

Constraints on the onset of color transparency from quasielastic 12 C ⁡(𝑒,𝑒′⁢𝑝) up to 𝑄 2 = 14.2 (GeV/𝑐) 2

Quasielastic scattering on 12 C ⁡(𝑒,𝑒′⁢𝑝) was measured in Hall C at Jefferson Lab for spacelike four-momentum transfer squared 𝑄 2 in the range of 8–14.2(GeV/𝑐) 2 with proton momenta up to 8.3GeV/𝑐. The experiment was carried out in the upgraded Hall C at Jefferson Lab. It used the existing high-momentum spectrometer and the new super-high-momentum spectrometer to detect the scattered electrons and protons in coincidence. The nuclear transparency was extracted as the ratio of the measured yield to the yield calculated in the plane wave impulse approximation. Additionally, the transparency of the 1⁢𝑠 1/2 and 1⁢𝑝 3/2 shell protons in 12 C was extracted, and the asymmetry of the missing momentum distribution was examined for hints of the quantum chromodynamics prediction of color transparency. Furthermore, all of these results were found to be consistent with traditional nuclear physics and inconsistent with the onset of color transparency.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Helium-4 gravitational form factors: Exchange currents

We evaluate the leading exchange corrections to the helium-4 gravitational form factors (GFFs) to momenta of the order of the nucleon mass. We use both the K-harmonic method with simple pair nucleon potential, and a Jastrow trial function using the Argonne 𝑣 14 potential, to evaluate the helium-4 GFFs. The exchange current contributions include the pair interaction, plus the seagull and the pion exchange interactions, modulo the recoil corrections. To estimate the off-shellness of the pion nucleon coupling in this momenta range, we discuss the results using either the pseudoscalar (PS) or pseudovector (PV) pion-nucleon couplings. When the PV coupling is used, the pair diagram contribution is higher order in the nonrelativistic expansion. The results for the helium-4 A-GFF are comparable to those given by the impulse approximation, especially for the PS coupling using both the K-harmonic method and variational method. The exchange current contributions with the PS coupling for the charge form factor of helium-4, yield better agreement with the existing data over a broad range of momenta, especially when the Argonne 𝑣 14 potential including the D-wave admixture is used.

A ≤ 5↗

Ruling out Color Transparency in Quasielastic 12 C(e,e'p) up to Q 2 of 14.2 (GeV/c) 2

Quasielastic $^{12}$C$(e,e'p)$ scattering was measured at space-like 4-momentum transfer squared $Q^2$ = 8, 9.4, 11.4, and 14.2 (GeV/c)$^2$, the highest ever achieved to date. Nuclear transparency for this reaction was extracted by comparing the measured yield to that expected from a plane-wave impulse approximation calculation without any final state interactions. Additionally, the measured transparency was consistent with no $Q^2$ dependence, up to proton momenta of 8.5 GeV/c, ruling out the quantum chromodynamics effect of color transparency at the measured $Q^2$ scales in exclusive $(e,e'p)$ reactions. Furthermore, these results impose strict constraints on models of color transparency for protons.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗