Strong attraction in low-energy antiproton-nucleus scattering

Abstract

Calculates total reaction cross sections for 40 MeV to 50 GeV antiprotons on carbon, copper and lead. The microscopic model, based on antiproton-nucleon cross sections, includes the effects of Pauli blocking, Fermi motion and Coulomb and real nuclear potentials. The results point out interesting aspects of the interaction and suggest that low-energy antiproton-nucleus total reaction cross section measurements would provide a quantitative measure of the strong attraction between antiprotons and nuclei.