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Nuclear transparency to large-angle pp elastic scattering

Journal Article · · Phys. Rev. Lett.; (United States)
Large-angle pp elastic and quasielastic (p,2p) scattering have been simultaneously observed in hydrogen and each of several nuclear targets (Li, C, AL, Cu, Pb) at incident proton momenta of 6, 10, and 12 GeV/c. The nuclear transparency is the ratio of such a cross section in a nucleus to the free pp cross section. The transparency of aluminum increases with incident momentum by more than a factor of 2 from 6 to 9.5 GeV/c and falls significantly between 9.5 and 12 GeV/c. This occurs in a region where the free-proton nucleon-absorption cross section exhibits little energy dependence. QCD predicts an increase in transparency with energy.
Research Organization:
Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973
OSTI ID:
6798018
Journal Information:
Phys. Rev. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 61:15; ISSN PRLTA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English