Investigation of the exclusive He-3(e,e ' pp)n reaction - art. no. 014005

Cross sections for the He-3(e,e'pp)n reaction were measured over a wide ran ge of energy and three-momentum transfer. At a momentum transfer q=375 MeV/ c, data were taken at transferred energies omega ranging from 170 to 290 Me V. At omega = 220 MeV, measurements were performed at three q values (305, 375, and 445 MeV/c). The results are presented as a function of the neutron momentum in the final state, as a function of the energy and momentum tran sfer, and as a function of the relative momentum of the two-proton system. The data at neutron momenta below 100 MeV/c, obtained for two values of the momentum transfer at omega = 220 MeV, are well described by the results of continuum-Faddeev calculations. These calculations indicate that the cross section in this domain is dominated by direct two-proton emission induced by a one-body hadronic current. Cross section distributions determined as a function of the relative momentum of the two protons are fairly well repro duced by continuum-Faddeev calculations based on various realistic nucleon- nucleon potential models. At higher neutron momentum and at higher energy t ransfer, deviations between data and calculations are observed that may be due to contributions of isobar currents.