Comprehensive investigation of the symmetric space-star configuration in the nucleon-deuteron breakup

TL;DR

This paper provides a detailed theoretical analysis of symmetric space star configurations in nucleon-deuteron breakup, comparing predictions with experimental data and exploring the stability of cross sections at low energies.

Contribution

It offers the first comprehensive numerical solutions of the three-nucleon Faddeev equations for SST configurations using various nuclear forces, highlighting discrepancies with experimental data.

Findings

Predicted SST cross sections are stable below 25 MeV.

Discrepancies between theory and experiment are identified at low energies.

Analysis suggests possible origins of data-theory differences.

Abstract

We examine a description of available cross section data for symmetric space star (SST) configurations in the neutron-deuteron (nd) and proton-deuteron (pd) breakup reaction using numerically exact solutions of the three-nucleon (3N) Faddeev equation based on two- and three-nucleon (semi)phenomenological and chiral forces. The predicted SST cross sections are very stable with respect to the underlying dynamics for incoming nucleon laboratory energies below $\approx 25$ MeV. We discuss possible origins of the surprising discrepancies between theory and data found in low-energy nd and pd SST breakup measurements.