Possible evidence of tensor interactions in 16O observed via (p,d) reaction

TL;DR

This study investigates tensor interactions in light nuclei by measuring the 16O(p,d) reaction at various energies, revealing enhanced cross sections for certain states that suggest high-momentum neutrons influenced by tensor forces.

Contribution

First experimental evidence suggesting the influence of tensor interactions in 16O through differential cross section analysis of (p,d) reactions.

Findings

Enhanced cross sections for positive-parity states.

Indication of high-momentum neutrons in the ground state.

Possible role of tensor interactions in nuclear structure.

Abstract

We have measured 16O(p,d) reaction using 198-, 295- and 392-MeV proton beams to search for a direct evidence on the effect of the tensor interactions in light nucleus. Differential cross sections of the one-neutron transfer reactions populating the ground states and several low-lying excited states in 15O were measured. Comparing the ratios of the cross sections for each excited state to the one for the ground state over a wide range of momentum transfer, we found a marked enhancement for the positive-parity state(s). The observation indicates large components of high-momentum neutrons in the initial ground-state configurations, due possibly to the tensor interactions.