Multiple Dirac eikonal scattering of polarized intermediate-energy protons by nuclei

TL;DR

This paper develops an advanced relativistic model for polarized proton-nucleus elastic scattering at intermediate energies, incorporating multiple scattering and relativistic nuclear densities, and compares different mean field models for improved accuracy.

Contribution

It introduces a refined Dirac eikonal scattering model that accounts for relativistic effects and nuclear structure, enhancing predictions of proton-nucleus scattering observables.

Findings

Relativistic scalar and vector densities significantly affect scattering results.

The model accurately reproduces experimental observables at 800 MeV.

Different mean field variants yield comparable results, validating the approach.

Abstract

An improved model of the multiple Dirac eikonal scattering of proton on nucleons of the target nucleus is considered. In this model, the amplitudes of elastic $p-A$ scattering are found on the basis of the Watson series of multiple scattering by means of the eikonal expansion of the Dirac propagator for the free proton motion between scattering events on nucleons, and the nucleus structure is described in the relativistic mean field model. The calculations have been performed for the complete set of observables for the elastic $p+^{40}$Ca and $p+^{208}$Pb scattering at 800 MeV. The effects of allowing for distinction between the relativistic scalar and vector nucleon densities on the description of the $p-A$ scattering observables have been studied, as well as the results of calculations using nucleon densities obtained in different modern variants of the relativistic mean field model have been compared.