Polarization transfer in the (p,p′) reaction on light nuclei

A high-efficiency, high-resolution polarimeter has been employed to measure the transverse spin-flip probability in ($p,{p}^{\ensuremath{'}}$) reactions induced by polarized protons in the energy range from 30 to 42 MeV. The spin-flip probability for central forces is shown to be uniquely related to spin transfer ($s=1$) in the eikonal approximation. More exact calculations indicate the general rule $S\ensuremath{\ge}0.5$ when $s=1$ and $S\ensuremath{\le}0.1$ when $s=0$. Antisymmetrized distorted-wave calculations give a generally poor account of spin transfer in isoscalar transitions and transitions in odd mass nuclei. Spin flip in isovector transitions is well described by the calculations.