Comprehensive investigation of the symmetric space-star configuration in the nucleon-deuteron breakup

Abstract

We examine a description of available cross section data for symmetric space star (SST) configurations in the neutron-deuteron (nd) and proton-deuteron (pd) breakup reaction using numerically exact solutions of the three-nucleon (3N) Faddeev equation based on two- and three-nucleon (semi)phenomenological and chiral forces. The predicted SST cross sections are very stable with respect to the underlying dynamics for incoming nucleon laboratory energies below $\approx 25$ MeV. We discuss possible origins of the surprising discrepancies between theory and data found in low-energy nd and pd SST breakup measurements.

30 pages, 12 figures