Quadrupole deformation signatures in elastic electron scattering from oriented odd-A nuclei

TL;DR

This paper investigates how elastic electron scattering from oriented odd-A nuclei reveals quadrupole deformation signatures, using a microscopic model to connect nuclear shape with scattering observables.

Contribution

It introduces a method to identify nuclear deformation signs through interference form factors in electron scattering, based on a self-consistent microscopic approach.

Findings

Interference form factors depend on quadrupole deformation sign.

Deformation signatures can distinguish oblate from prolate shapes.

Method applicable to various nuclei with different spins.

Abstract

Elastic electron scattering from oriented odd-Aaxially deformed nuclei is studied in the plane-wave Born approximation. The nuclear structure is described within a microscopic selfconsistent Skyrme deformed Hartree-Fock approximation with pairing correlations. The interference form factors between monopole and quadrupole Coulomb terms that characterize the nuclear response with aligned nuclear targets are shown to increase or decrease the unpolarized cross-section, depending on the sign of the quadrupole deformation. This feature provides valuable information on the nuclear deformation that can be used as a signature of the oblate or prolate character of the nuclear shape. Some selected cases of nuclei with different spins are presented that exemplify the scope of the method.