Medium effects on spin observables of proton knockout reactions

Abstract

Medium modifications of the properties of bound nucleons and mesons are investigated by means of intermediate energy quasifree proton knockout reactions with polarized incident protons, by comparison of quantities which are insensitive against wave distortions. The sensitivity of the spin observables of the quasifree proton-proton cross section to modifications of the nucleon and meson properties is studied using the Bonn one-boson exchange model of the nucleon-nucleon interaction. A method proposed to extract the pp analyzing power in medium from the (p→,2p) asymmetries indicates a reduction of this quantity compared to its free space value. This reduction is linked to modifications of masses and coupling constants of the nucleons and mesons in the nucleus. The implications of these modifications for another spin observable to be measured in the future are discussed. © 1995 The American Physical Society.