Weak sensitivity of three-body ($d,p$) reactions to $np$ force models

Abstract

Adiabatic distorted-wave approximation (ADWA) study of three-body $(d,p)$ transfer reactions [G.W. Bailey, N.K. Timofeyuk, and J.A. Tostevin, Phys. Rev. Lett. 117, 162502 (2016)] reported strong sensitivity of cross sections to the neutron-proton $(np)$ interaction model when the nucleon-nucleus optical potential is nonlocal. The verification of this unusual finding using more reliable methods is aimed for in the present work. A rigorous Faddeev-type three-body scattering theory is applied to the study of $(d,p)$ transfer reactions. The equations for transition operators are solved in the momentum-space partial-wave framework. Differential cross sections for $^{26}$Al$(d,p)^{27}$Al reactions are calculated using nonlocal nuclear optical potentials and a number of realistic $np$ potentials. Only a weak dependence on the $np$ force model is observed, typically one order of magnitude lower than in the previous ADWA study. The shape of the angular distribution of the experimental data is well reproduced. Cross sections of $(d,p)$ transfer reactions calculated using a rigorous three-body method show little sensitivity to the $np$ interaction model. This indicates a failure of the ADWA in the context of nonlocal potentials. Some evident shortcomings of the ADWA are pointed out.