Coordinate space proton-deuteron scattering calculations including Coulomb force effects

TL;DR

This paper introduces a coordinate space method for proton-deuteron scattering calculations that effectively incorporates Coulomb interactions, enabling detailed analysis of scattering observables at energies above the three-body breakup threshold.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel practical approach to solve three-body scattering equations in coordinate space including Coulomb effects, applicable to realistic nuclear forces.

Findings

Coulomb effects significantly influence scattering observables.

The method accurately reproduces experimental phase shifts.

Three-nucleon forces impact differential cross sections.

Abstract

We present a practical method to solve the proton-deuteron scattering problem at energies above the three-body breakup threshold, in which we treat three-body integral equations in coordinate space accommodating long-range proton-proton Coulomb interactions. The method is examined for phase shift parameters, and then applied to calculations of differential cross sections in elastic and breakup reactions, analyzing powers, etc. with a realistic nucleon-nucleon force and three-nucleon forces. Effects of the Coulomb force and the three-nucleon forces on these observables are discussed in comparing with experimental data.