Inelastic transition densities

Abstract The prediction of nuclear observables often involves the calculation of reduced matrix elements of single-particle operators between initial and final nuclear states. We have developed a systematic means of evaluating such matrix elements in terms of the inelastic transition densities ρ LSJ if ( r ) , which essentially give the probability for absorption of angular momentum J = L+S by the last nucleon as a function of its distance from the nuclear origin. These densities may be expanded in terms of Gauss-Laguerre functions, thus permitting substantial simplification in the matrix element calculation. A number of examples and useful formulas are presented.