Quadrupole deformation signatures in elastic electron scattering from oriented odd-A nuclei

Abstract

Elastic electron scattering from oriented odd-A axially deformed nuclei is studied in the plane-wave Born approximation. The nuclear structure is described within a microscopic selfconsistent Skyrme deformed Hartree-Fock approximation with pairing correlations. The interference form factors between monopole and quadrupole Coulomb terms that characterize the nuclear response with aligned nuclear targets are shown to increase or decrease the unpolarized cross-section, depending on the sign of the quadrupole deformation. This feature provides valuable information on the nuclear deformation that can be used as a signature of the oblate or prolate character of the nuclear shape. Some selected cases of nuclei with different spins are presented that exemplify the scope of the method.