Local-nuclear-density dependent calculation of nucleon electromagnetic form factor ratios in finite nuclei

Abstract

We calculate the electromagnetic form factors of nucleons bound in finite nuclei and make predictions to the ratio between the electric ($G_E^*$) and magnetic ($G_M^*$) form factors in terms of the square of the four-momentum transfer $Q^2$. We extend our previous constant-density calculations within the covariant spectator-QMC framework by incorporating the spatial nuclear density profiles of finite nuclei and quantify the deviations from the average-density approximation used in our previous applications. The impact of the medium effects can then be observed considering the ratio between $G_E^*/G_M^*$ and the ratio in free space $G_E/G_M$, that define the proton electromagnetic double ratio associated with a given nucleus. The double ratio is expected to remove some systematic uncertainties. There is the expectation that ratios $G_E^*/G_M^*$ associated with the bound protons inside the nucleus will be measured in the near future in polarization-transfer experiments $(\vec{e} A, e'\! A' \vec{p})$. Anticipating future measurements on the subject, we make predictions for the double ratios, to be compared with the average measurements on the energy states of protons bound to nuclei. We consider the nuclei $^{12}$C, $^{16}$O and $^{40}$Ca. We conclude that the form factors calculated using nuclear density profile function $ρ(r)$ are less suppressed than in the case of the results calculated using the average nuclear density. The results indicate that the relative importance of the low-density surface region increases with $Q^2$, leading to a weaker suppression than that predicted by the average-density approximation. We also make predictions for the ratios associated with neutrons bound to nuclei.