Proton-Proton Elastic Scattering Excitation Functions at Intermediate Energies

Abstract

Excitation functions of proton-proton elastic scattering cross sections have been measured in narrow steps for projectile momenta ${p}_{p}$ (energies ${T}_{p}$) from $1100$ to $3300\mathrm{MeV}/c$ (500 to 2500 MeV) in the angular range $35\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}\ensuremath{\le}{\ensuremath{\Theta}}_{\mathrm{c}.\mathrm{m}.}\ensuremath{\le}90\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ with a detector providing $\ensuremath{\Delta}{\ensuremath{\Theta}}_{\mathrm{c}.\mathrm{m}.}\ensuremath{\approx}1.4\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ resolution. Measurements have been performed continuously during projectile acceleration in the cooler synchrotron COSY with an internal ${\mathrm{CH}}_{2}$ fiber target, taking particular care to monitor luminosity as a function of ${T}_{p}$. The advantages of this experimental technique are demonstrated, and the excitation functions obtained are compared to existing cross section data. No evidence for narrow structures was found.