The Momentum Distribution of the Neutron in Hydrogen -2 and HELIUM-3.
Abstract
We have performed a series of quasielastic scattering experiments to determine the momentum distribution of the neutron in ('2)H and ('3)He. In these experiments the fast scattered proton was detected in coincidence with the neutron in a non-symmetrical geometry. The plane wave impulse approximation is used to analyse the results. At some angles elastic events prevail. These events were successfully removed from the data. Through a kinematical reconstruction of the data, the momentum distribution of the neutron in ('2)H and ('3)He was deduced. The effect of rescattering was considered and found to be negligible in the case of ('2)H and minor in the case of ('3)He. The experimental broadening was studied extensively and was found to change the shape of the momentum distributions considerably. The experimental broadening was removed from the data by deconvolution. Our results for the momentum distribution of the neutron in ('2)H were similar to other less extensive studies. No prior measurement of the momentum distribution of the neutron in ('3)He exists. Our measurement of the momentum distribution of the neutron in ('3)He shows considerable structure and the three ('3)He wavefunctions considered do not follow this structure. Of the three wavefunctions considered the Irving-Gunn wavefunction agrees with our results the best.
- Publication:
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Ph.D. Thesis
- Pub Date:
- 1981
- Bibcode:
- 1981PhDT.......115K
- Keywords:
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- Physics: Nuclear