What densities can be effectively probed in quasifree single-nucleon knockout reactions?

TL;DR

This paper compares reaction probability densities in quasifree single-nucleon knockout reactions to determine which nuclear densities can be effectively probed, revealing differences based on target nucleus size and reaction type.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive framework combining impulse approximation and relativized Glauber theory to analyze medium effects and density probing capabilities.

Findings

Light nuclei allow probing densities near nuclear saturation density.

Heavy nuclei like lead are probed at densities below 0.1 times saturation density.

$(e,e'p)$ reactions are more effective than $(p,2p)$ in bulk regions of heavy nuclei.

Abstract

We address the issue whether quasifree single-nucleon knockout measurements carry sufficient information about the nuclear interior. To this end, we present comparisons of the reaction probability densities for $A(e,e'p)$ and $A(p,2p)$ in quasifree kinematics for the target nuclei $^{4}$He, $^{12}$C, $^{56}$Fe, and $^{208}$Pb. We adopt a comprehensive framework based on the impulse approximation and on a relativized extension of Glauber multiple-scattering reaction theory in which the medium effects related to short-range correlations (SRC) are implemented. It is demonstrated that SRC weaken the effect of attenuation. For light target nuclei, both the quasifree $(p,2p)$ and $(e,e'p)$ can probe average densities of the same order as nuclear saturation density $\rho_{0}$. For heavy nuclei like $^{208}$Pb, the probed average densities are smaller than $0.1\rho_{0}$ and the $(e,e'p)$ reaction is far more efficient in probing the bulk regions than $(p,2p)$.