Exclusive charge exchange reaction pD->n(pp) within the Bethe-Salpeter formalism

The exclusive charge exchange reaction pD->n(pp) at intermediate and high energies is studied within the Bethe-Salpeter formalism. The final state interaction in the detected pp pair at nearly zero excitation energy is described by the 1S0 component of the Bethe-Salpeter amplitude. Results of numerical calculations of polarization observables and differential cross-section persuade that, as in the non-relativistic case, this reaction (i) can be utilized as a ``relativistic deuteron polarimeter'' and (ii) delivers further information about the elementary nucleon-nucleon charge-exchange amplitude.Comment: 38 pages, 10 eps-figure

Pion Exchange Effects in Elastic Backward Proton-Deuteron Scattering

The elastic backward proton-deuteron scattering is analyzed within a covariant approach based on the Bethe-Salpeter equation with realistic meson-exchange interaction. Contributions of the one-nucleon and one-pion exchange mechanisms to the cross section and polarization observables are investigated in explicit form. Results of numerical calculations for the cross section, tensor analyzing power and spin transfers are presented. The one-pion exchange contribution is essential for describing the spin averaged cross section, while in polarization observables it is found to be less important.Comment: 19 LaTeX pages, including 5 eps figure

Relativistic effects in proton-induced deuteron break-up at intermediate energies with forward emission of a fast proton pair

Recent data on the reaction pD -> (pp) n with a fast forward pp pair with very small excitation energy is analyzed within a covariant approach based on the Bethe-Salpeter formalism. It is demonstrated that the minimum non-relativistic amplitude is completely masked by relativistic effects, such as Lorentz boost and the negative-energy P components in the 1S_0 Bethe-Salpeter amplitude of the pp pair

The Plateau de Bure Neutron Monitor: design, operation and Monte-Carlo simulation

This paper describes the Plateau de Bure Neutron Monitor (PdBNM), an instrument providing continuous ground-level measurements of atmospheric secondary neutron flux resulting from the interaction of primary cosmic rays with the Earth's atmosphere. The detector is installed on the Plateau de Bure (Devoluy mountains, south of France, latitude North 44{\deg} 38' 02", longitude East 5{\deg} 54' 26", altitude 2555 m) as a part of the ASTEP Platform (Altitude Single-event effects Test European Platform), a permanent installation dedicated to the study of the impact of terrestrial natural radiation on microelectronics circuit reliability. The present paper reports the neutron monitor design, its operation since August 2008 and its complete numerical simulation using the Monte Carlo codes GEANT4 and MCNPX. We particularly detail the computation of the neutron monitor detection response function for neutrons, muons, protons and pions, the comparison between GEANT4 and MCNPX numerical results and the evaluation of the PdBNM counting rate a function of both the nature and flux of the incident atmospheric particles.Comment: 37 pages, 14 figures, 5 tables; numerical error in GEANT4 particle sourse corrected, section 4.4 was significantly revised. Submitted to IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Scienc

Elastic Proton-Deuteron Backward Scattering: Relativistic Effets and Polarization Observables

The elastic proton-deuteron backward reaction is analyzed within a covariant approach based on the Bethe-Salpeter equation with realistic meson-exchange interaction. Lorentz boost and other relativistic effects in the cross section and spin correlation observables, like tensor analyzing power and polarization transfer etc., are investigated in explicit form. Results of numerical calculations for a compbte set of polarization observables are presented

Solving the inhomogeneous Bethe-Salpeter equation

We develop an advanced method of solving homogeneous and inhomogeneous Bethe-Salpeter equations by using the expansion over the complete set of 4-dimensional spherical harmonics. We solve Bethe-Salpeter equations for bound and scattering states of scalar and spinor particles for the case of one meson exchange kernels. Phase shifts calculated for the scalar model are in agreement with the previously published results. We discuss possible manifestations of separability for one meson exchange interaction kernels.Comment: 9 pages, 11 eps-figures. Talk presented by S. S. Semikh at XVII International Baldin Seminar on High Energy Physics Problems "Relativistic Nuclear Physics and Quantum Chromodynamics", September 27 - October 2, 2004, Dubna, Russia; to appear in the proceedings of this conferenc