Measurement of pion-nucleus total cross sections as a test for the existence of a pion condensate

We suggest an experimental verification of the existence of a pion condensate in finite nuclei by measuring pion-nucleus total cross sections in the vicinity of T_π ≈ 1.2 GeV. Scattering of the pion beam from the condensate pions leads to a measurable modification both in the energy dependence and magnitude of the pion-nucleus total cross section if the condensate is present with a sufficient strength.     

Boron+boron sub-Coulomb energy total reaction cross sections

Total reaction cross sections have been measured for the following reactions and energy intervals: ¹¹B+¹¹B, E_c.m. = 1.56–3.65 MeV; ¹⁰B+¹¹B, E_c.m. = 1.61–3.94 MeV; ¹⁰B+¹⁰B, E_c.m. = 1.84–3.66 MeV. Absolute cross sections were extracted from the prompt γ-rays emitted by the various residual nuclei and measured by large NaI detectors. The absolute accuracy of the method is thoroughly discussed and tested via a measurement of the ¹²C+¹²C reaction. For all three boron cases measured neither intermediate nor giant type resonances were observed. The cross sections are well described by optical model calculations based on lowenergy ¹¹B+¹¹B elastic scattering parameter sets.     

Universality tests for total cross sections

Starting directly from data we test the universality of the decomposition of total cross-sections in an asymptotically dominant term, the Pomeron, and a non dominant one, the Reggeon. Without assuming Regge pole model behaviour or additive quark model relations we show that data are compatible with both models. Support is not found for models predicting asymptotical equality of total cross-sections.     

Rising total cross sections

As two hadrons pass one another the vacuum between them becomes polarised. It is shown that quark-loop contributions to the vacuum polarisation account for most, if not all, of the rise of the total cross section with energy.     

Heavy-ion total reaction cross sections

A one-parameter expression has been found which predicts with a smaller χ² than previous expressions, the total reaction cross sections for a large number of heavy-ion systems covering a wide energy range. The expression uses an interaction radius which is a sum of the equivalent uniform matter radii of the interacting nuclei plus and energy-dependent term.     

Evaporation residue cross sections for 40Ca + 48Ti at 25.0 and 33.9 MeV per nucleon

The fusion and subsequent decay of the system ⁴⁰Ca+⁴⁸Ti has been studied at 25.0 and 33.9 MeV per nucleon bombarding energies. Heavy residues were detected in coincidence with light particles, and evaporation residue cross sections have been extracted. Light particle distributions are well described by a simple kinematical model, and from this the average excitation energies of the system were determined.     

Coulomb and photo cross sections for nucleon emission from relativistic O projectiles

Coulomb cross sections for nucleon emission out of ¹⁶O projectiles scattered with laboratory energies of 2.1, 60 and 200 GeV/nucleon on various target nuclei are calculated in first-order perturbation theory by using the corresponding photo cross sections. The photo cross sections are obtained with an 1-particle-1-hole basis in the giant resonance region and with the quasi-deuteron model up to photon energies of 140 MeV. Whereas the 2.1 GeV/nucleon results agree well with the experimental data points, the 60 and 200 GeV/nucleon cross sections are roughly one quarter lower than the measured ones, because also photons with energies higher than 140 MeV contribute at these incident energies.     

Predicting total reaction cross sections for nucleon-nucleus scattering

Nucleon total reaction and neutron total cross sections to 300 MeV for 12C and 208Pb, and for 65 MeV scattering spanning the mass range, are predicted using coordinate space optical potentials formed by full folding of effective nucleon-nucleon interactions with realistic nuclear ground state densities. Good to excellent agreement is found with existing data.     

Upper bound on total cross sections

It is shown, under certain assumptions, that if the Nth derivative of the absorptive part of an elastic scattering amplitude exists in the interval t ₁t0, then, the total cross section has the asymptotic upper bound      

Measurements of total cross sections for positron-K and-Rb scattering

A modification of the apparatus that we have been using to measure absolute total cross sections (Q _T′s) for positron and electron scattering by alkali metal atoms has enabled us to more easily obtainQ _T′s at low energies (<10 eV). Our positron-K and-RbQ _T measurements now extend from 1 to 98 eV and we have made the correspondingQ _T measurements for electrons in the same system using the same technique (a beam transmission technique). Our measured positron-K and-RbQ _T values show a peak in the vicinity of 6 eV and decrease substantially as the positron energy is reduced below 6 eV, in sharp contrast to the results obtained in recent 5-state close-coupling approximation calculations. At higher energies (above 10 eV), we have found that the same calculations are in quite good agreement with our measured positron-K and-RbQ _T′s. Our measurements of the correspondingQ _T′s for electrons below 10 eV do not show a peak, but rather continue to increase as the energy is decreased.     

Evaporation residue and total reaction cross sections for the system36S+48Ca

Evaporation residue cross sections for the system³⁶ s +⁴⁸Ca were measured at E_cm=66.4 MeV, 74.4 MeV and 83.5 MeV and are compared with simple model predictions. Compound nucleus formation accounts for 80% of the total reaction cross section; the residual strength is found in the transfer channels.     

Pionization effects in proton-nucleus total cross sections

A simple unitary model for meson production effects in proton-nucleus scattering was used earlier to estimate the pionization corrections to the proton-deuteron total cross section. This model is here used to study the corresponding effects in heavy nuclei using a generalization of the optical limit. An increase in the total cross sections at the upper limit of NAL energies of roughly 20% is found.     

Alignment effects in deuteron total cross sections

The alignment dependence of the total cross section of deuterium is a purely multiple scattering phenomenon. An estimate of this for pion scattering using Glauber theory shows that the most important contribution is associated with the deuteron D-state (typically 1%) with corrections coming from the double spin flip. Measurements of the proton total cross section with an aligned deuteron beam should also yield other interesting information on the wave function of the deuteron D-state.     

The rise of total cross sections and a critical pomeron

The framework of a Reggeon Field Theory with thresholds in rapidity is used to predict the rise of pp total cross section while maintaining the critical character of the pomeron.     

New shadowing corrections to photon-deuteron total cross sections

The Glauber correction to photon-deuteron total cross sections is reexamined in the light of the Extended Vector Dominance Model. If the photon couples to an infinite number of π-like vector mesons one obtains an extra shadowing correction of about 3 μb at high energy. Some of the consequences of this new contribution are briefly discussed.     

First measurements of positronium total scattering cross sections

A new type of experiment has been devised in which ortho-positronium diffusion to the metal walls of a series of parallel-sided cells is studied by measuring the annihilation lifetimes. Experimental results are subjected to an analysis in which two parameters are varied to give a best fit, one of the two parameters being the scattering cross section. The method requires a number of systematic corrections which have still to be worked out. Preliminary cross section values for helium, argon and isobutane are 0.017 πa ₀ ² , 0.09 πa ₀ ² , and 0.54 πa ₀ ² , respectively.