Model of Energy Dependent Total, Absorption, and 3He and 3H Production Cross Sections in 4He-proton Collisions

TL;DR

This paper develops a classical abrasion model for 4He nuclei fragmentation on hydrogen targets, accurately predicting energy-dependent cross sections and comparing well with experimental data and existing models across a wide energy range.

Contribution

It introduces a new classical abrasion model for 4He fragmentation, providing improved predictions at lower energies compared to traditional Glauber and optical potential models.

Findings

Model accurately predicts cross sections from 100 to 100,000 MeV/u.

Glauber and optical models agree above 300 MeV/u but differ at lower energies.

Good agreement with experimental measurements across the studied energy range.

Abstract

Light ion (A<5) breakup cross sections are important for studies of cosmic ray interactions in the inter-stellar medium or radiation protection considerations of energy deposition in tissue. Nucleon abrasion cross sections for heavy ion reactions are often calculated using the Glauber model in the large mass limit or with the Eikonal form of the optical potential model. Here we formulate an abrasion model for 4He nuclei fragmentation on hydrogen targets with a classical model for final state interactions. Comparisons to the heavy ion abrasion model are made. Calculations of energy dependent total, absorption, elastic and breakup cross sections for 4He into 3He or 3H with protons targets are shown to be in good agreement with experimental measurements for energies from 100 to 100,000 MeV/u. The Glauber model for light nuclei and the large mass limit to the model are shown to be in close agreement for 4He-proton interactions above 300 MeV/u, however important differences occur at lower energies.