Question

Describe the evidence from Nuclear Physics for the following properties of the nucleon - nucleon interaction

a) Short range

b) Spin dependence

c) Charge independence

Answer 1

a) The properties of deuteron and the low energy n-p and p-p scattering data show that a very short-range attractive force acts between the nucleons, the range being about 2 *10^-15 meter

B) Nucleon-nucleon interaction is spin-dependent this is revealed by value of very low energy n-p scattering cross-section as also by the difference in the ortho and para hydrogen cross-sections, the nuclear force has a non-central or tensor component this is revealed by finite quadrupole moment of the deuteron

C) Experimental results on p-p and n-n scatterings show charge symmetry of the nuclear force. Comparison of n-p ,p-p,n-n interactions at low energies in the charge triplet (spin-singlet 1S0) state shows the charge independence of nuclear force. This is also found at high energies.