Electron Scattering from Nonspherical Nuclei

Abstract

To explain the anomalously smooth cross sections observed in electron scattering from certain nuclei (Hf, Ta, W, U), the contributions to the cross section arising from the nonspherical character of those nuclei have been examined. Approximations are developed for the calculation of these contributions, and for a sample case, Ta, numerical results are given; the value required for the nuclear distortion in order to obtain agreement with experiment in this case is in good agreement with the spectroscopic and Coulomb-excitation values. The results suggest that in certain cases electron scattering will be a useful new method for measuring both the magnitude and the radial shape of nuclear deformations.