Low energy antiproton-nucleus interactions

Abstract

The interaction of 175-MeV antiprotons with nuclei is examined within the intranuclear cascade model. The experimental characteristics of nucleon-antinucleon annihilation and scattering are used as input, and the propagation of the resultant pions through the nucleus is treated realistically. The effect of the antiproton-nucleus strong attraction is also included. Overall characteristics of antiproton annihilation within nuclei, particularly the large, well-defined energy deposition, indicate that such collisions constitute a unique laboratory for the study of nuclei at very high excitations. The calculations also identify promising experimental observables and triggers.