Nuclear cross sections from low-energy interactions

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel method to calculate neutron scattering cross sections for deformed nuclei by integrating many-body wavefunctions with a generator coordinate method, emphasizing the role of nuclear structure at low energies.

Contribution

It develops a consistent approach to construct non-local, energy-dependent optical potentials from many-body states, advancing the understanding of nuclear scattering processes.

Findings

Accurately reproduces experimental scattering data for $^{24}$Mg below 13 MeV.

Highlights the significance of low-energy nuclear collectivity in scattering.

Demonstrates the effectiveness of the method compared to phenomenological models.

Abstract

We present a method to calculate neutron scattering cross sections for deformed nuclei using many--body wavefunctions described with multiple reference states. Nuclear states are calculated with the generator coordinate method using a low energy effective Hamiltonian. Using these states, a non--local and energy dependent optical potential is consistently constructed, allowing to directly investigate the role of nuclear structure properties in nuclear scattering. The case of neutron scattering on $^{24}$Mg is presented. The results are compared to experiment and to phenomenological optical potentials at energies below 13 MeV, demonstrating the importance of low--energy collectivity in elastic and non--elastic scattering.