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Title: 12C(e,e'pN) measurements of short range correlations in the tensor-to-scalar interaction transition region

Journal Article · · Physics Letters B
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High-momentum configurations of nucleon pairs at short-distance are probed using measurements of the $$^{12}$$C$$(e,e'p)$ and $$^{12}$$C$$(e,e'pN)$ reactions (where $$N$$ is either $$n$$ or $$p$$), at high-$Q^2$ and $$x_B>1.1$$. The data span a missing-momentum range of 300--1000 MeV/c and are predominantly sensitive to the transition region of the strong nuclear interaction from a Tensor to Scalar interaction. The data are well reproduced by theoretical calculations using the Generalized Contact Formalism with both chiral and phenomenological nucleon-nucleon ($NN$) interaction models. This agreement suggests that the measured high missing-momentum protons up to $1000$ MeV/c predominantly belong to short-ranged correlated (SRC) pairs. The measured $$^{12}$$C$$(e,e'pN)$ / $$^{12}$$C$$(e,e'p)$ and $$^{12}$$C$$(e,e'pp)$ / $$^{12}$$C$$(e,e'pn)$ cross-section ratios are consistent with a decrease in the fraction of proton-neutron SRC pairs and increase in the fraction of proton-proton SRC pairs with increasing missing momentum. This confirms the transition from an isospin-dependent tensor $NN$ interaction at $$\sim 400$$ MeV/c to an isospin-independent scalar interaction at high-momentum around $$\sim 800$$ MeV/c as predicted by theoretical calculation.

Research Organization:
Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (TJNAF), Newport News, VA (United States); Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Nuclear Physics (NP)
Contributing Organization:
The CLAS Collaboration
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-06OR23177; AC02-06CH11357
OSTI ID:
1812482
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1831125
Report Number(s):
JLAB-PHY-20-3174; DOE/OR/-23177-5075; arXiv:2004.07304; TRN: US2213244
Journal Information:
Physics Letters B, Vol. 820; ISSN 0370-2693
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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