The theory of electron-scattering coincidence experiments

A general expression for the electron-scattering coincidence cross section for the reaction A₁(e, e′ X) A₂ with a nuclear target is derived in the one-photon exchange approximation. The result is exact to lowest order in α, the fine-structure constant. It is expressed in terms of four kinematic factors involving the electron scattering variables in the laboratory frame, and four combinations of transition matrix elements of the nuclear current operator expressed in the center-of-momentum (COM) frame. The nuclear matrix elements are decomposed into transition amplitudes of definite angular momentum using a helicity analysis. General expressions for the angular distribution of particle X in the COM frame are then derived. The analysis is independent of the detailed structure of the nucleus and particle X and depends only on general symmetry considerations and the existence of a local electromagnetic current operator for the hadronic target. A unitary transformation from the helicity basis for the final particle X and A₂ to an LS coupling basis is relevant if X is massive and a finite number of total angular momenta J are involved in the reaction. Tables of angular correlation coefficients are given for the case where the initial nucleus A₁ has J₁^π = 0⁺. They constitute one of the most useful results of this paper.Connection is made in the “static limit,” and with the assumption that the reaction proceeds through a finite number of Breit-Wigner resonances with a corresponding factorization of the electroproduction transition matrix elements, to the familiar electromagnetic transition multipole moments involving excitation of a nuclear state J^π. The relation to previous work by de Forest and by Drechsel and Überall is discussed.Analytic expressions for the coincidence cross sections are given for spin-zero systems and some very simple, basic models of nuclear “giant resonance” excitations. It is hoped that they will be useful in obtaining insight into the coincidence cross section and in planning future experiments.Finally, a reanalysis of the recent Stanford data of Calarco et al. on ${}^{12}\text{C}\text{(e, e′ p}{}_0\text{)}{}^{11}\text{B}\text{(}\text{3}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{)}$ in the vicinity of the giant dipole resonance in ¹²C is carried out using a very simple nuclear model but retaining all the terms in the coincidence cross section, some of which were previously neglected.     

Properties of finite nuclei in a relativistic quantum field theory

A renormalizable relativistic quantum field theory is used to study finite nuclei in the mean-field Thomas-Fermi approximation. Mass formula parameters are calculated and proton densities illustrated for ⁴⁰Ca and ²⁰⁸Pb. The Dirac equation is solved to determine single-particle spectra.     

Operator algebras and a theorem of Dieudonne

LetA be aC*-algebra with second dualA″. Let (φ _n)(n=1,...) be a sequence in the dual ofA such that limφ _n(a) exists for eacha εA. In general, this does not imply that limφ _n(x) exists for eachx εA″. But if limφ _n(p) exists whenever p is the range projection of a positive self-adjoint element of the unit ball ofA, then it is shown that limφ _n(x) does exist for eachx inA″. This is a non-commutative generalisation of a celebrated theorem of Dieudonné. A new proof of Dieudonné’s theorem, for positive measures, is given here. The proof of the main result makes use of Dieudonné’s original theorem.     

Nuclear excitation by neutral weak currents

The use of neutrino excitation of nuclear levels to study weak neutral currents is examined.     

Radial oscillations of neutron stars in strong magnetic fields

The eigen frequencies of radial pulsations of neutron stars are calculated in a strong magnetic field. At low densities we use the magnetic BPS equation of state (EOS) similar to that obtained by Lai and Shapiro while at high densities the EOS obtained from the relativistic nuclear mean field theory is taken and extended to include strong magnetic field. It is found that magnetized neutron stars support higher maximum mass whereas the effect of magnetic field on radial stability for observed neutron star masses is minimal.     

Semi-leptonic weak and electromagnetic interactions in nuclei:: Parity violations in electron scattering and weak neutral currents

A general result for the difference in differential cross sections for electron scattering between any two nuclear levels with incident longitudinally polarized right- and left-handed electrons is derived. This difference must involve the parity-violating weak interaction at least linearly and can be used to study weak neutral currents as pointed out by Feinberg. A V — A structure for the weak neutral currents is assumed with a semi-leptonic current-current interaction, and the electromagnetic interaction is treated in the one-photon-exchange approximation. The result is expressed in terms of the same set of reduced matrix elements of the multipoles of the nuclear currents which govern all electromagnetic and weak transitions between these levels. A previously developed unified analysis of semi-leptonic weak and electromagnetic interactions in nuclei which determines one-body transition densities, including their spin and spatial dependences, through electron scattering provides nuclear transitions to serve as known analyzers in testing the structure of this part of the weak interaction. Examples are given using Weinberg's model of the weak neutral currents. Feinberg's result for elastic scattering from spin-0 nuclei is rederived and two new examples using previously determined one-body densities are discussed : the 1⁺0 → 0⁺1 (3.56 MeV) transition in ⁶Li and the 0⁺0 → 1⁺ 1(15.1 MeV) transition in ¹²C.     

Spin waves and spin polarizability in atoms

Linearized hydrodynamic equations for spin-up and -down fluids oscillating about the Thomas-Fermi ground state are derived variationally and estimates for the lowest-lying spin waves obtained. Static solutions in an external magnetic field yield a model spin susceptibility.