Structure functions and correlations in nuclei

Abstract

The static longitudinal structure function S L( k) and the static structure function S( k) of 3H, 3He and 4He nuclei and nuclear matter are calculated using realistic wave functions obtained from Faddeev and variational calculations. In order to study the variation of the structure function with the number of particles in the system we also calculate S( k) of atomic helium liquid drops containing 4, 8, 20, 40, 70, 168 and 240 atoms. Monte Carlo integration is used to calculate the structure functions of finite systems, while those of nuclear matter are calculated with chain summation methods. The behavior of S( k) and S L( k) at small values of k is discussed. We find that the recent Saclay data on S L( k) of the 3He nucleus are in agreement with theory. Though the data indicate the existence of correlations between the two protons in the 3He nucleus, they are not accurate enough to draw interesting conclusions about the repulsive core in the nucleon-nucleon interaction. The structure functions of atomic helium liquid drops indicate a smooth variation of S( k) with the number of atoms in the drop. The S L( k) of the 4He nucleus and nuclear matter are very similar for k > 1.5 fm −1, and it appears plausible that S L( k) of nuclei having A > 3 may not depend significantly on A when k > 1.5 fm −1.