This US-Hungary research project on "N-Body Scattering Theory" is between Drs. Colston Chandler and Archie G. Gibson of the University of New Mexico and Dr. Gyula Bencze of the Research Institute for Nuclear & Particle Physics, Hungarian Academy of Sciences. The researchers will continue examination of the Coulomb interaction, a difficult, few-body problem in theoretical physics for which no practical, mathematically rigorous theory exists. Work will emphasize code development to evaluate scattering amplitudes numerically for proton- deuteron scattering, treating the Coulomb interaction exactly. The researchers will pursue work on a scattering theory to more accurately account for electron correlations in atomic breakup reactions. Finally, they will study the Coulomb reaction for three particles interacting with repulsive Coulomb interactions to determine how to incorporate into the scattering theory a practical distorted wave approximation for breakup wave functions. The inclusion of breakup channels in scattering calculations is a topic of considerable interest at present in both atomic and nuclear physics. The researchers also intend to continue their theoretical and numerical work on breakup amplitudes in the context of the Chandler-Gibson equations. The specific problem to be addressed is a simplified model for neutron-deuteron scattering, though the techniques should be applicable to more general problems. Study will also be initiated to develop a practical N-body distorted wave approximation for three-cluster breakup wave functions. Success in any of the proposed studies would have considerable practical application in atomic or nuclear physics, or both. This project in theoretical physics fulfills the program objective of advancing scientific knowledge by enabling leading experts in Hungary and the United States to combine complementary talents and pool resources in areas of strong mutual interest and competence.
