Cross Section and Polarization in the Photodisintegration of the Deuteron

Abstract

The differential cross section and polarization of nucleons from the ${\mathrm{H}}^{2}(\ensuremath{\gamma}, n){\mathrm{H}}^{1}$ reaction is investigated arranging calculations by means of the amplitude method. Electric dipole, electric quadrupole, and magnetic dipole transitions are considered taking into account coupling between states with the same $J$, but different $L$ such as produced by the tensor potential. The calculations include the general case of elliptically polarized gamma rays. Numerical results are obtained for two modified versions of the Signell-Marshak two-nucleon potential. Five approximations have been used to exhibit the effects of the various multipole transitions. The calculations agree with experiment rather well even at energies for which the potential used does not represent scattering data at all perfectly. The significance of polarization measurements is discussed.