Abstract
We consider high-energy quasifree single- and two-proton knockout reactions induced by electrons and protons and address the question of what target-nucleus densities can be effectively probed after correcting for nuclear attenuation (initial- and final-state interactions). Our calculations refer to ejected proton kinetic energies of 1.5 GeV, the reactions , , and , and a carbon target. It is shown that each of the three reactions is characterized by a distinctive sensitivity to the density of the target nucleus. The bulk of the strength stems from the high-density regions in the deep nuclear interior. Despite the strong attenuation, sizable densities can be probed by reactions provided that the energy resolution allows one to pick nucleons from orbits. The effective mean densities that can be probed in high-energy reactions is of the order of 30%–50% of the nuclear saturation density.
- Received 8 April 2009
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.80.011602
©2009 American Physical Society