Measurement of Nuclear Transitions with10−20-sec Half-Lives and the Scattering Cross Sections of Unstable Particles by Proximity Scattering

Abstract

Proximity scattering uses the particular form of a two-particle final-state interaction in a three-particle final-state system, in which the two interacting particles just prior to their interaction are free. Proximity scattering is the reaction in which an incident particle (0) strikes a target nucleus (1), forming a composite nucleus (2) which then decomposes into two particles (3) and (4). Particle (4) at some time later decays into two particles (5) and (6), whereupon particle (5) then interacts with particle (3). The separability in space of (5) and (3) and their scattering are analyzed in terms of wave packets. The lifetime of particle (4) and the (5-3) scattering cross section is shown to be obtainable from the (5-3) energy and angular correlation. Illustrative numerical examples are given.