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Probing Few-Body Nuclear Dynamics via H3 and He3 (e,e'p)pn Cross-Section Measurements

Journal Article · · Physical Review Letters
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Here, we report the first measurement of the (e, e' p) three-body breakup reaction cross sections in helium-3 (3He) and tritium (3H) at large momentum transfer ($$\langle{Q^2}\rangle$$ ≈ 1.9 (GeV/c)2) and xB > 1 kinematics, where the cross section should be sensitive to quasielastic (QE) scattering from single nucleons. The data cover missing momenta 40 ≤ pmiss ≤ 500 MeV/c that, in the QE limit with no rescattering, equals the initial momentum of the probed nucleon. The measured cross sections are compared with state-of-the-art ab-initio calculations. Overall good agreement, within ±20%, is observed between data and calculations for the full pmiss range for 3H and for 100 ≤ pmiss ≤ 350 MeV/c for 3He. Including the effects of rescattering of the outgoing nucleon improves agreement with the data at pmiss > 250 MeV/c and suggests contributions from charge-exchange (SCX) rescattering. The isoscalar sum of 3He plus 3H, which is largely insensitive to SCX, is described by calculations to within the accuracy of the data over the entire pmiss range. This validates current models of the ground state of the three-nucleon system up to very high initial nucleon momenta of 500 MeV/c.
Research Organization:
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States); Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States); Mississippi State Univ., Mississippi State, MS (United States); Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, Newport News, VA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
Israel Science Foundation; National Science Foundation (NSF); Pazi Foundation; Polish National Science Centre; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Nuclear Physics (NP)
Contributing Organization:
Jefferson Lab Hall A Tritium Collaboration
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-05CH11231; AC02-06CH11357; AC05-06OR23177; FG02-07ER41528; SC0013615; SC0016577
OSTI ID:
1630898
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1830336
OSTI ID: 1632161
OSTI ID: 1873161
OSTI ID: 1778966
Report Number(s):
DOE/OR/23177--4905; JLAB-PHY--20-3137; arXiv:2001.07230
Journal Information:
Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 21 Vol. 124; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
Publisher:
American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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