Neutron-proton charge-exchange scattering from 8 to 29 GeV/c

Abstract

The differential cross sections for neutron-proton charge-exchange scattering have been measured for incident neutron momenta between 8 and 29 GeV/c and for four-momentum transfers |t| between 0.002 and 1.0 (GeV/c)2. A neutron beam with a broad momentum spectrum was scattered from a liquid hydrogen target. The momenta and scattering angles of the forward-scattered protons were measured by a spark-chamber magnet spectrometer. The flight times and scattering angles of the recoil neutrons were measured by a bank of thick scintillation counters. The efficiencies of the neutron counters were determined in a separate measurement. Absolute normalization of the data was obtained from a measurement of the diffraction dissociation of neutrons from carbon nuclei. Differential cross sections, based on ~ 23 000 events, are presented for 9 different momenta. The shape of the differential cross sections and the momentum dependence are examined in detail.