Constraining nucleon high momentum in nuclei

TL;DR

This paper constrains the maximum nucleon momentum in nuclei to be at most twice the Fermi momentum by analyzing experimental data and considering short-range correlations.

Contribution

It introduces a method to constrain nucleon high momentum in nuclei using transport models and experimental data, providing a quantitative upper limit.

Findings

High momentum cutoff p_max ≤ 2 p_F

Nucleon high momentum influenced by neutron-proton correlations

Transport model comparison with experimental data supports the cutoff

Abstract

Recent studies at Jefferson Lab show that there are a certain proportion of nucleons in nuclei have momenta greater than the so-called nuclear Fermi momentum $p_{F}$. Based on the transport model of nucleus-nucleus collisions at intermediate energies, nucleon high momentum caused by the neutron-proton short-range correlations in nuclei is constrained by comparing with $\pi$ and photon experimental data and considering some uncertainties. The high momentum cutoff value $p_{max}$ $\leq$ 2$p_{F}$ is obtained.