Using a genetic algorithm to investigate two-nucleon knockout reactions

Abstract

The use of genetic algorithms as tools in nuclear physics problems is highlighted by examining the particular case of two-nucleon knockout reactions. The predictions of a factorized model of (e,e',pp) reactions are investigated by maximizing functions of the calculated cross sections within the phase space, to establish kinematics where particular effects will occur most strongly. In this first investigation we find that, contrary to received wisdom, the Gent factorized model predicts that the effect of short-range correlations can be seen most clearly in kinematics which are not in a so-called super-parallel configuration. Variants and extensions of this method are likely to be of benefit to both theorists and experimentalists who have to cope with multi-dimensional problems.