Proton and Neutron Elastic Scattering on He Targets from Ab Initio SA-NCSM Optical Potentials

2026/06/30 by Darin C. Mumma, Matthew B. Burrows, Kristina D. Launey +2
Physics and Astronomy · #nucl-th

paper · pdf

13 pages, 6 figures

arxiv created 2026/08/04 · arxiv updated 2026/08/06

Abstract

We construct and discuss ab initio nucleon-nucleus optical potentials at low energies for ^3,4,6He targets. In this work, we use the ab initio SA-NCSM/GF approach that combines the ab initio symmetry-adapted no-core shell model with the Green's function technique to construct optical potentials, and extend this formulation to proton scattering and targets with nonzero spin. We show that these optical potentials reproduce experimental differential cross sections and phase shifts for proton and neutron elastic scattering remarkably well. The ab initio SA-NCSM/GF approach provides nonlocal, energy dependent and dispersive optical potentials, suitable for the astrophysically relevant regime of low energies and for exotic nuclei, where experiments are difficult and data is often unavailable.

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