Sensitivity of quasi-free reactions on details of the bound-state overlap functions

TL;DR

This paper investigates how different nuclear reaction mechanisms, specifically heavy-ion knockout and (p,2p)/(p,pn) reactions, probe the entire overlap functions of nuclei, challenging the belief that only the tails are sensitive.

Contribution

It compares potential model wavefunctions with ab initio calculations across the oxygen isotopic chain, revealing both reaction types access the full overlap functions.

Findings

Both reaction mechanisms probe the entire overlap functions, not just the tails.

Internal parts of the overlap functions are crucial for accurate spectroscopic information.

Potential models and ab initio calculations show similar sensitivities in reactions.

Abstract

It is often stated that heavy-ion nucleon knockout reactions are mostly sensitive to the tails of the bound-state wavefunctions. In contrast, (p,2p) and (p,pn) reactions are known to access information on the full overlap functions within the nucleus. We analyze the oxygen isotopic chain and explore the differences between single-particle wave functions generated with potential models, used in the experimental analysis of knockout reactions, and ab initio computations from self-consistent Green's function theory. Contrary to the common belief, we find that not only the tail of the overlap functions, but also their internal part are assessed in both reaction mechanisms, which are crucial to yield accurately determined spectroscopic information.