Low energy proton-proton scattering near the interference minimum using a windowless gas jet target

Abstract

In the energy region around 380 keV (lab.) and at detection angles near 45° (lab.) the cross section of proton-proton scattering exhibits a deep minimum, since the Coulomb amplitude and the nuclear amplitude almost cancel each other out, resulting in a pronounced deviation from pure Mott scattering. A new set of precise data in the-energy range between 300 and 407 keV was recorded using the accelerator of the IKP Münster by employing a thin gas jet target with an areal density smaller than 8 × 10 14cm −2. For the first time p-p scattering near the interference minimum was studied under single scattering conditions using a high quality ion beam (energy spread <40 eV). Since the energy smearing was two orders of magnitude lower than that of the former measurements, a more detailed evaluation of the data was feasible, resulting in differential cross sections near the minimum which are smaller than published before. The measured values cannot be explained by the interference of the Coulomb and the nuclear amplitude alone but suggest the need for vacuum polarization or other additional effects. The position of the minimum was determined to be (382.8 ± 0.1) keV.