Density-dependent forces in inelastic proton scattering from 208Pb and the shape of the imaginary transition potential

An effective energy- and density-dependent force is used to analyse microscopically inelastic nucleon scattering to low-lying collective states in ²⁰⁸Pb (3⁻, 5₁⁻, 5₂⁻ and 2⁺). In the energy range from 10 to 200 MeV, quantitative agreement with experiment is obtained without need for a renormalization factor in the cross section. Polarization data are also included in the analysis. The shape of the imaginary transition potential is studied in detail. The density dependence of the force is shown to lead to changes in the geometry as predicted by the collective model.