Searching for three-nucleon short-range correlations

TL;DR

This paper investigates three-nucleon short-range correlations in nuclei, proposing conditions for their detection, predicting their probabilities, and providing evidence that they have been observed in electro-nuclear experiments, which enhances understanding of dense nuclear matter.

Contribution

It introduces a method to identify 3N-SRCs, predicts their quadratic dependence on 2N-SRC probabilities, and provides the first evidence of their observation in electro-nuclear processes.

Findings

Predicted quadratic dependence of 3N- and 2N-SRC probabilities.

Suggested optimal kinematic conditions for probing 3N-SRCs.

Provided an estimate for the probability of 3N-SRCs in various nuclei.

Abstract

Three nucleon short range correlations~(SRCs) are one of the most elusive structures in nuclei. Their observation and the subsequent study of their internal makeup will have a significant impact on our understanding of the dynamics of super-dense nuclear matter which exists at the cores of neutron stars. We discuss the kinematic conditions and observables that are most favorable for probing 3N-SRCs in inclusive electro-nuclear processes and make a prediction for a quadratic dependence of the probabilities of finding a nucleon in 2N- and 3N- SRCs. We demonstrate that this prediction is consistent with the limited high energy experimental data available, suggesting that we have observed, for the first time, 3N-SRCs in electro-nuclear processes. Our analysis enables us to extract $a_3(A,Z)$, the probability of finding 3N-SRCs in nuclei relative to the A=3 system.