The momentum-dependent T_p tensor interaction in intermediate-energy deuteron scattering

The role of the spin dependence associated with Pauli-principle-induced break-up is studied quantitatively in the case of intermediate-energy deuteron elastic scattering from a ⁵⁸Ni target. The magnitude of the momentum-dependent T_p tensor interaction, calculated using realistic theoretical models of the nucleon-nucleon interaction, is shown to pass through a local maximum in the region of 400 MeV incident deuteron energy. Comparison of numerical calculations with the available experimental data at this energy shows that the Pauli mechanism is not responsible for the outstanding discrepancies between theory and experiment.