Microscopic optical model analyses of proton and neutron elastic scattering cross sections

Abstract

In this paper we investigate the physical properties of a microscopic optical model potential (OMP) derived from a realistic nucleon-nucleon interaction through nuclear matter calculations, using the local density approximation for nuclei. We calculate nucleon elastic scattering cross sections for a wide range of energies and nuclei. Comparison with experimental data shows that the shape and depth of the real part of the OMP are quite satisfactory. However, the depth of the imaginary part turns out to be a little too large. We suggest some plausible physical arguments to explain this discrepancy. The overall argument is however quite encouraging and it suggests that the study of some microscopic effects, neglected previously, would be worthwhile.