Strong pickup-channel coupling effects in proton scattering: the case of p + Be-10

TL;DR

This paper investigates the effects of deuteron channel coupling on proton scattering from Be-10, revealing a repulsive real and absorptive imaginary dynamic polarization potential that cannot be simplified to a local potential.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed analysis of the dynamic polarization potential due to deuteron channels in proton scattering from Be-10, highlighting its non-local nature and significance.

Findings

DPP is repulsive and absorptive, with absorption at larger radii.

DPP cannot be represented by a simple renormalization of the bare potential.

Deuteron channels are essential for accurate proton-nucleus interaction models.

Abstract

The dynamic polarization potential (DPP) contribution to the effective proton-nucleus interaction, that is due to the coupling of deuteron channels, is evaluated by applying $S_{lj} \to V(r)$ inversion to the elastic channel $S$-matrix from coupled reaction channel calculations of proton elastic scattering. This was done for protons scattering from $^{10}$Be at 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16 MeV; non-orthogonality corrections were included. We find a consistent pattern of a repulsive real and an absorptive imaginary DPP, with the absorption shifted to a larger radius. This is consistent with what has been found for proton scattering from the neutron skin nucleus $^8$He. The DPP is not of a form that can be represented by a renormalization of the bare potential, and has properties suggesting an underlying non-local process. We conclude that deuteron channels cannot be omitted from a full theoretical description of the proton-nucleus interaction (optical potential).