arXiv subjects

T. W. Donnelly

Publications and source records attributed to T. W. Donnelly.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

arXiv2000

Influence of nucleonic motion in Relativistic Fermi Gas inclusive responses

Impulsive hadronic descriptions of electroweak processes in nuclei involve two distinctly different elements: one stems from the nuclear many-body physics --- the medium --- which is rather similar for the various inclusive response functions, and the other embodies the responses of the hadrons themselves to the electroweak probe and varies with the channel selected. In this letter we investigate within the context of the relativistic Fermi gas in both the quasi-elastic and $N\toΔ$ regimes the interplay between these two elements. Specifically, we focus on expansions in the one small parameter in the problem, namely, the momentum of a nucleon in the initial wave function compared with the hadronic scale, the nucleon mass. Both parity-conserving and -violating inclusive responses are studied and the interplay between longitudinal ($L$) and transverse ($T$ and $T'$) contributions is highlighted.

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arXiv1999

Final-State Interaction in Electron Scattering by Polarized Nuclei

The cross section for the reaction $^{39}\vec{\rm K}(e,e'p)^{38}$Ar is computed, and the dependence of the FSI on the initial polarization angles of the nucleus $^{39}$K is analyzed. The results are explained in a semi-classical picture of the reaction. This procedure allows us to find the best initial kinematical conditions for minimizing the FSI.

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arXiv1999

Quaiselastic scattering from relativistic bound nucleons: Transverse-Longitudinal response

Predictions for electron induced proton knockout from the $p_{1/2}$ and $p_{3/2}$ shells in $^{16}$O are presented using various approximations for the relativistic nucleonic current. Results for the differential cross section, transverse-longitudinal response ($R_{TL}$) and left-right asymmetry $A_{TL}$ are compared at $|Q^2|=0.8$ (GeV/c)$^2$ corresponding to TJNAF experiment 89-003. We show that there are important dynamical and kinematical relativistic effects which can be tested by experiment.

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arXiv1999

Superscaling of Inclusive Electron Scattering from Nuclei

We investigate the degree to which the concept of superscaling, initially developed within the framework of the relativistic Fermi gas model, applies to inclusive electron scattering from nuclei. We find that data obtained from the low energy loss side of the quasielastic peak exhibit the superscaling property, i.e., the scaling functions f(ψ') are not only independent of momentum transfer (the usual type of scaling: scaling of the first kind), but coincide for A \geq 4 when plotted versus a dimensionless scaling variable ψ' (scaling of the second kind). We use this behavior to study as yet poorly understood properties of the inclusive response at large electron energy loss.

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arXiv1999

Relativistic effects in electromagnetic nuclear responses in the quasi-elastic delta region

A new non-relativistic expansion in terms of the nucleon's momentum inside nuclear matter of the current for isobar electro-excitation from the nucleon is performed. Being exact with respect to the transferred energy and momentum, this yields new current operators which retain important aspects of relativity not taken into account in the traditional non-relativistic reductions. The transition current thus obtained differs from the leading order of the traditional expansion by simple multiplicative factors. These depend on the momentum and energy transfer and can be easily included together with relativistic kinematics in non-relativistic, many-body models of isobar electro-excitation in nuclei. The merits of the new current are tested by comparing with the unexpanded electromagnetic nuclear responses in the isobar peak computed in a relativistic Fermi gas framework. The sensitivity of the relativistic responses to the isobar's magnetic, electric and Coulomb form factors and the finite width of the isobar is analyzed.

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arXiv1999

Spin-orbit final state interaction in the framework of Glauber theory for (e,e'p) reactions

We investigate the reactions D(e,e'p)n and D(\vec e,e'p)n at GeV energies and discuss the opportunities to distinguish between different models for the nuclear ground state by measuring the response functions. In calculating the final-state interaction (FSI) we employ Glauber theory, and we also include relativistic effects in the electromagnetic current. We include not only the central FSI, but also the spin-orbit FSI which is usually neglected in (e,e'p) calculations within the Glauber framework and we show that this contribution plays a crucial role for the fifth response function. All of the methods developed here can be applied to any target nucleus.

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arXiv1998

Final-State Interactions in (e,e'p) Reactions with Polarized Nuclei

The cross section for coincidence, quasielastic proton knock-out by electrons from a polarized K39 nucleus is computed in DWIA using an optical potential in describing the wave function of the ejected nucleon. The dependence of the FSI on the initial polarization angles of the nucleus is analyzed and explained in a new, semi-classical picture of the reaction in which the nuclear transparency decreases as a function of the amount of nuclear matter that the proton has to cross, thus providing a method for obtaining detailed information on its mean free path in finite nuclei. We propose a procedure to find the best initial kinematical conditions for minimizing the FSI which will be useful as a guide for future experiments with polarized nuclei.

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arXiv1998

Relativistic Effects in Electromagnetic Meson-Exchange Currents for One-Particle Emission Reactions

Following recent studies of non-relativistic reductions of the single-nucleon electromagnetic current operator, here we extend the treatment to include meson exchange current operators. We focus on one-particle emission electronuclear reactions. In contrast to the traditional scheme where approximations are made for the transferred momentum, transferred energy and momenta of the initial-state struck nucleons, we treat the problem exactly for the transferred energy and momentum, thus obtaining new current operators which retain important aspects of relativity not taken into account in the traditional non-relativistic reductions. We calculate the matrix elements of our current operators between the Fermi sphere and a particle-hole state for several choices of kinematics. We present a comparison between our results using approximate current operators and those obtained using the fully-relativistic operators, as well as with results obtained using the traditional non-relativistic current operators.

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arXiv1998

Relativistic current densities for bound spin-orbit partners and the longitudinal-transverse response in (e,e'p) processes

Scalar, baryon and vector--current densities in coordinate and momentum space are calculated within a relativistic mean--field model. The role of the low components of the bound nucleon wave function is investigated in detail for different spin--orbit partner shells. We show that the relative importance of the negative--energy projection components can be explained from the different quantum numbers involved in the relativistic wave function. This fact has proved to be important in the analysis of various electron scattering observables even for low--medium values of the bound nucleon momentum.

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arXiv1998

Relativistic y-scaling and the Coulomb sum rule in nuclei

In this paper dividing factors GL and GT are constructed for the longitudinal and transverse responses of the relativistic Fermi gas in such a way that the reduced responses so obtained scale. These factors parallel another dividing factor studied previously, HL, that yields a (different) reduced response which fulfills the Coulomb sum rule. GL, GT and HL are all found to be only very weakly model-dependent, thus providing essentially universal dividing factors. To explore the residual degree of dependence which remains, the scaling and sum rule properties of several specific models have been considered. It is seen that the relativistic Fermi gas (by construction) and also typical shell-model reduced responses successfully scale and satisfy the Coulomb sum rule, as do experimental results at medium to high momentum transfers. On the other hand, it is observed that the quantum hadrodynamic model does so only if interaction effects become weaker with increasing momentum transfer, as predicted in the most recent versions of that model.

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arXiv1998

Inclusive quasielastic scattering of polarized electrons from polarized nuclei

The inclusive quasielastic response functions that appear in the scattering of polarized electrons from polarized nuclei are computed and analyzed for several closed-shell-minus-one nuclei with special attention paid to 39K. Results are presented using two models for the ejected nucleon --- when described by a distorted wave in the continuum shell model or by a plane wave in PWIA with on- and off-shell nucleons. Relativistic effects in kinematics and in the electromagnetic current have been incorporated throughout. Specifically, the recently obtained expansion of the electromagnetic current in powers only of the struck nucleon's momentum is employed for the on-shell current and the effects of the first-order terms (spin-orbit and convection) are compared with the zeroth-order (charge and magnetization) contributions. The use of polarized inclusive quasielastic electron scattering as a tool for determining near-valence nucleon momentum distributions is discussed.

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arXiv1998

Spin Observables in Coincidence Electron Scattering from Nuclei I: Reduced Response Functions

A theoretical description of nucleon knockout reactions initiated by polarized electron scattering from polarized nuclei is presented. Explicit expressions for the complete set of reduced response functions (independent of the polarization angle) that can be experimentally obtained assuming plane waves for the electron are given in a general multipole expansion. The formalism is applied to the particular case of closed-shell-minus-one nuclei using two models for the ejected nucleon, including the final-state interaction phenomenologically with a complex optical potential and in the factorized plane-wave impulse approximation. Relativistic effects in the kinematics and in the electromagnetic current are incorporated throughout --- specifically a new expansion of the electromagnetic current in powers only of the struck nucleon momentum is employed. Results are presented for the nucleus 39K.

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arXiv1997

Relativistic Effects in the Electromagnetic Current at GeV Energies

We employ a recent approach to the non-relativistic reduction of the electromagnetic current operator in calculations of electronuclear reactions. In contrast to the traditional scheme, where approximations are made for the transferred momentum, transferred energy and initial momentum of the struck nucleon in obtaining an on-shell inspired form for the current, we treat the problem exactly for the transferred energy and transferred momentum. We calculate response functions for the reaction $^2H(e,e'p)n$ at CEBAF (TJNAF) energies and find large relativistic corrections. We also show that in Plane Wave Impulse Approximation, it is always possible to use the full operator, and we present a comparison of such a limiting case with the results incorporating relativistic effects to the first order in the initial momentum of the struck nucleon.

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arXiv1997

Analysis of factorization in (e,e'p) reactions: A survey of the relativistic plane wave impulse approximation

The issue of factorization within the context of coincidence quasi-elastic electron scattering is reviewed. Using a relativistic formalism for the entire reaction mechanism and restricting ourselves to the case of plane waves for the outgoing proton, we discuss the meaning of factorization in the cross section and the role of the small components of the bound nucleon wave function.

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arXiv1996

On the Coulomb and higher-order sum rules in the relativistic Fermi gas

Two different methods for establishing a space-like Coulomb sum rule for the relativistic Fermi gas are compared. Both of them divide the charge response by a normalizing factor such that the reduced response thus obtained fulfills the sum rule at large momentum transfer. To determine the factor, in the first approach one exploits the scaling property of the longitudinal response function, while in the second one enforces the completeness of the states in the space-like domain via the Foldy-Wouthuysen transformation. The energy-weighted and the squared-energy-weighted sum rules for the reduced responses are explored as well and the extension to momentum distributions that are more general than a step-function is also considered. The two methods yield reduced responses and Coulomb sum rules that saturate in the non-Pauli-blocked region, which can hardly be distinguished for Fermi momenta appropriate to atomic nuclei. Notably the sum rule obtained in the Foldy-Wouthuysen approach coincides with the well known non-relativistic one. Only at quite large momentum transfers (say 1 GeV/c) does a modest softening of the Foldy-Wouthuysen reduced response with respect to that obtained in the scaling framework show up. The two responses have the same half-width to second order in the Fermi momentum expansion. However, when distributions extending to momenta larger than that at the Fermi surface are employed, then in both methods the Coulomb sum rule saturates only if the normalizing factors are appropriately modified to account for the high momentum components of the nucleons.

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arXiv1996

Inclusive versus Exclusive EM Processes in Relativistic Nuclear Systems

Connections are explored between exclusive and inclusive electron scattering within the framework of the relativistic plane-wave impulse approximation, beginning with an analysis of the model-independent kinematical constraints to be found in the missing energy--missing momentum plane. From the interplay between these constraints and the spectral function basic features of the exclusive and inclusive nuclear responses are seen to arise. In particular, the responses of the relativistic Fermi gas and of a specific hybrid model with confined nucleons in the initial state are compared in this work. As expected, the exclusive responses are significantly different in the two models, whereas the inclusive ones are rather similar. By extending previous work on the relativistic Fermi gas, a reduced response is introduced for the hybrid model such that it fulfills the Coulomb and the higher-power energy-weighted sum rules. While incorporating specific classes of off-shellness for the struck nucleons, it is found that the reducing factor required is largely model-independent and, as such, yields a reduced response that is useful for extracting the Coulomb sum rule from experimental data. Finally, guided by the difference between the energy-weighted sum rules of the two models, a version of the relativistic Fermi gas is devised which has the 0$^{\rm th}$, 1$^{\rm st}$ and 2$^{\rm nd}$ moments of the charge response which agree rather well with those of the hybrid model: this version thus incorporates {\em a priori} the binding and confinement effects of the stuck nucleons while retaining the simplicity of the original Fermi gas.

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arXiv1996

Probing Nucleon Strangeness with Neutrinos: Nuclear Model Dependences

The extraction of the nucleon's strangeness axial charge, Delta_s, from inclusive, quasielastic neutral current neutrino cross sections is studied within the framework of the plane-wave impulse approximation. We find that the value of Delta_s can depend significantly on the choice of nuclear model used in analyzing the quasielastic cross section. This model-dependence may be reduced by one order of magnitude when Delta_s is extracted from the ratio of total proton to neutron yields. We apply this analysis to the interpretation of low-energy neutrino cross sections and arrive at a nuclear theory uncertainty of plus/minus 0.03 on the value of Delta_s expected to be determined from the ratio of proton and neutron yields measured by the LSND collaboration. This error compares favorably with estimates of the SU(3)-breaking uncertainty in the value of Delta_s extracted from inclusive, polarized deep-inelastic structure function measurements. We also point out several general features of the quasielastic neutral current neutrino cross section and compare them with the analogous features in inclusive, quasielastic electron scattering.

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arXiv1995

Parity-violating longitudinal response

The longitudinal quasielastic parity-violating electron scattering response is explored within the context of a model that builds antisymmetrized RPA-HF correlations on a relativistic Fermi gas basis. The large sensitivity to nuclear dynamics of this observable, found in previous studies where only pionic correlations were included, is shown to survive in the present model where the effects from pion, rho, sigma and omega exchange in a version of the Bonn potential are incorporated. Through an intricate diagrammatic cancellation/filtration mechanism the longitudinal parity-violating response turns out to be close to the one obtained in first-order perturbation theory with the pion alone. Finally, in accord with our previous work, the parity-violating response is seen to display appreciable sensitivity to the electric strangeness content of the nucleon, especially at high momentum transfer.

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