A spin-dependent distorted wave treatment of the quasi-elastic scattering of fast nucleons from optical model nuclei

Abstract

During the last few years the observation and analysis of scattering phenomena has undoubtedly been one of the most useful tools in the development of nuclear and atomic properties. Improvement of experimental techniques in the determination of angular distributions in nuclear reactions has yielded a wealth of experimental results many of which still require adequate theoretical explanation. In this thesis, it is attempted to give, with some measure of completeness, a theoretical discussion of some of the more prominent phenomena encountered in the inelastic scattering of fast nucleons from nuclei. Such a discussion must of necessity involve a considerable volume of formal mathematical processes and this (for the sake of completeness) can in no ways be avoided. However, in spite of this, the author has tried to give preference to the physical interpretation of the resultant mathematics and the logic of the intermediate steps involved. In 1959 Hooton and Allcock published a paper in which it was shown that the angular distributions of nucleons scattered from light nuclei could be unambiguously described by making use of the distorted wave impulse approximation. The various peaks observed in the experimental distributions could in many cases be related directly to the excited levels stimulated in quasi-elastic scattering.