Mass dependence of short-range correlations in nuclei and the EMC effect

TL;DR

This paper introduces a method to quantify how short-range correlations in nuclei depend on mass number, linking SRC to the EMC effect and electron scattering measurements.

Contribution

It proposes a new approach based on the local nuclear character and IPM pairs to estimate SRC mass dependence, connecting it to experimental observables.

Findings

SRC probability follows a power law with mass number A.

Linear relationship between EMC effect magnitude and SRC-prone pairs.

Predictions align with electron scattering data.

Abstract

An approximate method to quantify the mass dependence of the number of two-nucleon (2N) short-range correlations (SRC) in nuclei is suggested. The proposed method relies on the concept of the "local nuclear character" of the SRC. We quantify the SRC and its mass dependence by computing the number of independent-particle model (IPM) nucleon pairs in a zero relative orbital momentum state. We find that the relative probability per nucleon for 2N SRC follows a power law as a function of the mass number $A$. The predictions are connected to measurements which provide access to the mass dependence of SRC. First, the ratio of the inclusive inelastic electron scattering cross sections of nuclei to $^{2}$H at large values of the Bjorken variable. Second, the EMC effect, for which we find a linear relationship between its magnitude and the predicted number of SRC-prone pairs.