Method for analysis of inelastic α-particle scattering

Abstract The analysis of inelastic scattering of strongly interacting particles from nuclei suffers from the model dependence introduced when specifying the form factors (coupling potentials), e.g. in the framework of a vibrational model. Moreover, the relation between strength and shape of the coupling potentials and corresponding quantities of the transition densities is not well established, and the interpretation in terms of transition rates and nuclear moments introduces additional uncertainties. In the present studies of inelastic scattering of 104 MeV α-particles from 50 Ti and 52 Cr we remove the constraints due to pre-chosen forms of the coupling potentials by applying the Fourier-Bessel method which is more flexible. It allows quite general shapes and provides realistic estimates of the uncertainties of the potentials and derived quantities (moments). Using the identities between the integral moments of a folded potential distribution and of the underlying nuclear matter distribution isoscalar transition rates have been derived.