RELATIVISTIC EFFECTS IN 3N REACTIONS

Abstract

We solved the three-nucleon Faddeev equation in a Poincaré invariant model of the three-nucleon system. Two-body interactions are generated so that when they are added to the two-nucleon invariant mass operator (rest energy) the two-nucleon S matrix is identical to the non-relativistic S matrix with a CD Bonn interaction. Cluster properties of the three-nucleon S -matrix determine how these two-nucleon interactions are embedded in the three-nucleon mass operator. Differences in the predictions of the relativistic and corresponding non-relativistic models for elastic and breakup processes are investigated. Of special interest are the lowering of the Ay maximum in elastic nucleon-deuteron (Nd) scattering below ≈ 25 MeV caused by the Wigner spin rotations and the significant changes of the breakup cross sections in certain regions of the phase-space.