On the unabridged 7D-folding structure of the optical model potential for nucleon-nucleus scattering

Abstract

Microscopic optical model potentials for nucleon-nucleus collisions, based on density-dependent effective interactions, involve multi-dimensional integrals to account for the Fermi motion of the bound nucleons of the target. If a spherical matter distribution is assumed, each matrix element of the optical potential in momentum space requires the evaluation of seven-dimensional integrals. Here we describe the structure of these potentials and report results from their actual evaluation. Results for the scattering observables are compared with those based on alternative approximations, observing moderate sensitivity. These findings validate the use of simpler expressions to evaluate folding optical potentials, from which higher-order or unconventional effects in the effective interaction can safely be investigated.