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Comparison between non-relativistic and relativistic models in nucleon-nucleus scattering

Thesis/Dissertation ·
OSTI ID:5795066

The comparison between the non-relativistic and relativistic treatments focused on three different kinds of nucleon-nucleus processes viz., elastic scattering and collective and microscopic excitations for inelastic scattering. In the case of elastic scattering the results are unambiguous. The Dirac approach gives unquestionably a better description of the experimental data, specially in the case of spin observables. We understood the success of the Dirac approach by linking our treatment to previous phenomenological work done in the non-relativistic picture. We solved the Dirac equation in the eikonal approximation, and subsequently obtained the elastic scattering amplitude. This approach revealed the appearance of three different geometries needed to describe the spin observable data even if only one, single underlying nuclear density was assumed. The existence of Dirac eikonal distorted waves opened the door to inelastic calculations. It was already known that for collective transitions, the Schroedinger approach with a Tassie model transition density was very successful so long as a formulation is used that also fits elastic scattering. We proved that in the relativistic approach this agreement continued to hold, and in fact put the theory on a much firmer footing because it used a formulation that fitted elastic scattering from the outset.

Research Organization:
Pennsylvania Univ., Philadelphia (USA)
OSTI ID:
5795066
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English