Classical theory of HI collisions

Abstract

We consider the collision between two nuclei with mass numbers Al and A2. The wave length of the relative motion at the top of the Coulomb barrier VCB is given by $${X_{CB}} = V_{CB}^{ - 1}\sqrt {\frac{{{A_1} + {A_2}}}{{{A_1}{A_2}}}\frac{{20}}{{E - {V_{CB}}}}} fm$$ (2.1) where E denotes the incident center-of-mass energy and both E and VCB are taken in MeV. Many HI collisions are investigated with heavy nuclei and/or high energies, such that the wave length is small as compared to characteristic lengths of the interaction potential. For example, X CB≈0.1 fm for Ar on Th at only 50 MeV above the Coulomb barrier. Therefore, these collisions can frequently be treated in the classical limit. In the first part of this section we develop the basic concepts and results of the classical theory of elastic scattering. This theory is considered in some detail because (i) the analogy with classical concepts is important later on, and (ii) the theory is easily generalized to apply to deeply inelastic collisions. The deeply inelastic collisions are treated in the second part of this chapter.KeywordsFriction ForceImpact ParameterDeflection AngleInelastic CollisionCoulomb BarrierThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.