Coulomb-nuclear interference in proton-proton scattering: Reply to a comment of V.\ Petrov

TL;DR

This paper defends the authors' analysis of Coulomb-nuclear interference in proton-proton scattering against Petrov's critique, clarifying the connection with previous works in the small momentum transfer region.

Contribution

It provides a rebuttal to Petrov's comments, reaffirming the validity of the original analysis and clarifying its relation to prior research by Cahn and Kundráť and Lokajiček.

Findings

Petrov's remarks are misdirected in the small momentum transfer region.

The connection between the authors' results and previous studies is clarified.

The original analysis remains valid in the Coulomb-nuclear interference context.

Abstract

We show that the remarks of V.\ Petrov in the preceding Comment are misdirected in the region of very small momentum transfers relevant to the study of Coulomb-nuclear interference in proton-proton scattering, and clarify the connection between our results and those of Cahn and of Kundr\'{a}t and Lokaji\v{c}ek which he cites.