Tensor Analysing Power T₂₀ and Polarization Transfer Coefficient æ for Deuteron Fragmentation at 9 GeV/c

Abstract

In earlier experiments the differential cross section of the fragmentation of 9 GeV/c deuterons on protons and ¹²C nuclei at 0° as function of the inner momentum k (light cone variable) of the nucleons were measured ^/1/. Assuming the impuls approximation to be applicable the data should reproduce the deuteron wave function in momentum representation. In the region of k between 0.2 and 0.6 GeV/c a significant deviation of the data from the theoretical predictions on the basis of e.g. the deuteron wave function derived from the Paris potential was observed (Fig.2a). A final explanation of this result couldn’t be found up to now. As this disagreement with conventional nuclear theory may be connected with possible effects of quark degrees of freedom, it is of fundamental interest to investigate this problem by means of additional experimental methods.