Coulomb glory in low-energy antiproton scattering by heavy nucleus: screening effect of vacuum polarization

Abstract

Backward scattering of antiprotons by bare uranium is studied theoretically for antiproton energies within the interval 100 eV -- 1 keV. A marked maximum of the differential cross section in the backward direction (Coulomb glory) at some energies of the incident particle is revealed. The effect is due to the screening properties of the vacuum polarization potential and can be regarded as a manifestation of the vacuum polarization in non-relativistic collisions of heavy particles. Experimental observation can become feasible with new facilities for antiproton and ion research at GSI.