Simple Estimate of the Attenuation of Quasifree Scattering in Nucleon-Deuteron Breakup

Abstract

A semiclassical model has been developed to estimate the attenuation of quasifree scattering in nucleon-deuteron breakup. According to this model the probability that an initial quasifree scattering event undergoes multiple scattering is just the probability that one or the other of the emerging high-energy particles strikes the spectator particle before leaving the volume of space occupied by the target deuteron. The model yields directly a prediction for the probability of such a rescattering for events in which the nucleons in the deuteron are far apart. An approximate form is assumed for the short-range behavior of this rescattering probability. With this approximation the predictions of the model for the peak value of the $D(p,2p)n$ cross section agree well with experiment in the energy range 20-50 MeV and the predicted energy spectrum at $E_p=45\mathrm{}$ MeV agrees with experiment in both size and shape.