Comparative Models in Nuclear Scattering

Abstract

The "optical" and "compound" methods for treating nucleon-nucleus encounters are compared on the basis of a very simple model. It is concluded that the optical procedure is valid for incident energies $E>\mathrm{}\sim 80$ Mev, the compound for $E<\mathrm{}\sim 30$ Mev. The statistical model of the excited nucleus can be applied only when the excitation energies of individual nucleons may all be considered to be within the lower limit. For $\pi$-mesons incident on nuclei similar considerations show that the optical method must be used under all circumstances.