We present an ab-initio study of the isoscalar monopole excitations of 4He using different realistic nuclear interactions, including modern effective field theory potentials. In particular we concentrate on the transition form factor $F_{cal M}$ to t
he narrow $0^+$ resonance close to threshold. F_M exhibits a strong potential model dependence, and can serve as a kind of prism to distinguish among different nuclear force models. Comparing to the measurements obtained from inelastic electron scattering off 4He, one finds that the state-of-the-art theoretical transition form factors are at variance with experimental data, especially in the case of effective field theory potentials. We discuss some possible reasons for such discrepancy, which still remains a puzzle.
A different formulation of the effective interaction hyperspherical harmonics (EIHH) method, suitable for non-local potentials, is presented. The EIHH method for local interactions is first shortly reviewed to point out the problems of an extension t
o non-local potentials. A viable solution is proposed and, as an application, results on the ground-state properties of 4- and 6-nucleon systems are presented. One finds a substantial acceleration in the convergence rate of the hyperspherical harmonics series. Perspectives for an application to scattering cross sections, via the Lorentz transform method are discussed.
Integral transform approaches are numerous in many fields of physics, but in most cases limited to the use of the Laplace kernel. However, it is well known that the inversion of the Laplace transform is very problematic, so that the function related
to the physical observable is in most cases unaccessible. The great advantage of kernels of bell-shaped form has been demonstrated in few-body nuclear systems. In fact the use of the Lorentz kernel has allowed to overcome the stumbling block of the ab initio description of reactions to the full continuum of systems of more than three particles. The problem of finding kernels of similar form, applicable to many-body problems deserves particular attention. If this search were successful the integral transform approach might represent the only viable ab initio access to many observables that are not calculable directly.
The Lorentz integral transform method is briefly reviewed. The issue of the inversion of the transform, and in particular its ill-posedness, is addressed. It is pointed out that the mathematical term ill-posed is misleading and merely due to a histor
ical misconception. In this connection standard regularization procedures for the solution of the integral transform problem are presented. In particular a recent one is considered in detail and critical comments on it are provided. In addition a general remark concerning the concept of the Lorentz integral transform as a method with a controlled resolution is made.
The LIT approach is reviewed both for inclusive and exclusive reactions. It is shown that the method reduces a continuum state problem to a bound-state-like problem, which then can be solved with typical bound-state techniques. The LIT approach opens
up the possibility to perform ab initio calculations of reactions also for those particle systems which presently are out of reach in conventional approaches with explicit calculations of many-body continuum wave functions. Various LIT applications are discussed ranging from particle systems with two nucleons up to particle systems with seven nucleons.
The possibility to resolve narrow structures in reaction cross sections in calculations with the Lorentz integral transform (LIT) method is studied. To this end we consider a fictitious two-nucleon problem with a low-lying and narrow resonance in the
$^3P_1$ nucleon-nucleon partial wave and calculate the corresponding ``deuteron photoabsorption cross section. In the LIT method the use of continuum wave functions is avoided and one works instead with a localized function tildePsi. In this case study it is investigated how far into the asymptotic region tildePsi has to be determined in order to obtain a precise resolution of the artificially introduced E1 resonance. Comparing with the results of a conventional calculation with explicit neutron-proton continuum wave functions it is shown that the LIT approach leads to an excellent reproduction of the cross section in the resonance region and of further finer cross section details at higher energies. To this end, however, for tildePsi one has to take into account two-nucleon distances up to at least 30 fm.
The LIT method has allowed ab initio calculations of electroweak cross sections in light nuclear systems. This review presents a description of the method from both a general and a more technical point of view, as well as a summary of the results obt
ained by its application. The remarkable features of the LIT approach, which make it particularly efficient in dealing with a general reaction involving continuum states, are underlined. Emphasis is given on the results obtained for electroweak cross sections of few--nucleon systems. Their implications for the present understanding of microscopic nuclear dynamics are discussed.
The longitudinal response function of 4He is calculated with the Argonne V18 potential. The comparison with experiment suggests the need of a three-body force. When adding the Urbana IX three-body potential in the calculation of the lower longitudina
l multipoles, the total strength is suppressed in the quasi-elastic peak, towards the trend of the experimental data.
