E2 CONTRIBUTION TO THE B-8-]P-7 COULOMB DISSOCIATION CROSS-SECTION - COMMENT(BE)

The E2 cross section calculated by Langanke and Shoppa for the RIKEN e xperiment on the Coulomb dissociation of B-8 uses E2 nuclear matrix el ement from one specific model. Other nuclear models predict a consider ably smaller E2 cross section (by approximately a factor of 3 to 4), a nd Langanke and Shoppa appear to assume the most optimistic scenario, predicting a large E2 cross section. We also note that Barker has alre ady criticized the nuclear model used by Langanke and Shoppa. A model independent chi-square analysis of the RIKEN data suggest the best fit for the current RIKEN data is obtained with El amplitudes only. The u pper limit (90% confidence) on the E2 component derived from our chi-s quare analysis is considerably smaller than that used by Langanke and Shoppa. The model dependent analysis of Langanke and Shoppa should not be considered as a correction to the RIKEN result, as claimed, and th eir quoted S-17(0) is not substantiated.