Nucleon-nucleon optical model for energies up to 3 GeV - art. no. 054003

Several nucleon-nucleon potentials, Paris, Nijmegen, Argonne, and those der ived by quantum inversion, which describe the NN interaction for T(Lab)less than or equal to 300 MeV, are extended in their range of application as NN optical models. Extensions are made in r space using complex separable pot entials definable with a wide range of form factor options including those of boundary condition models. We use the latest phase shift analysis SP00 ( FA00, WI00) of Arndt et al. from 300 MeV up to 3 GeV to determine these ext ensions. The imaginary parts of the optical model interactions account for loss of flux into direct or resonant production processes. The optical pote ntial approach is of particular value as it permits one to visualize fusion , and subsequent fission, of nucleons when T-Lab>2 GeV. We do so by calcula ting the scattering wave functions to specify the energy and radial depende nces of flux losses and of probability distributions. Furthermore, half off the energy shell t matrices are presented as they are readily deduced with this approach. Such t matrices are required for studies of few- and many-b ody nuclear reactions.