Total cross section for p-d breakup below 30 MeV

The total cross section for p-d breakup is studied in terms of the elastic S-matrix through the unitary condition. Calculations using the complex Kohn variational method along with the Pair Correlated Hyperspherical Harmonic basis are presented. The results have been restricted to energies below E-p = 30 MeV where Coulomb effects are expected to be sizable and are compared to the existing data. Two different measurements have been found in the literature: 30 years ago, Gibbons and Macklin [Phys. Rev. 114 (1959) 571] and 26 years ago, Carlson el at. [Lett. Nuovo Cimento 8 (1973) 319]. The calculations are found to be in reasonable agreement with these old data, though a discrepancy is observed near the deutron breakup threshold. Moreover, a detailed analysis or the contributions to the observable from different partial waves has been performed. Unexpectedly, the main contribution for a wide range of energies hus. been detected in the J = 3/2(-) stale. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.