The nuclear spin response to intermediate energy protons

Measurements of the spin-flip probability S nn for inclusive inelastic proton scattering around 300 MeV from nuclei between 12 C and 90 Zr show that an enhanced spin response near 40 MeV excitation at q ∼ 100 MeV/ c is a general feature of nuclear structure. Data for 40 Ca at 800 MeV confirm that the enhancement is not a peculiarity of 300 MeV scattering. In addition, measurements in 44 Ca up to 75 MeV show that the enhancement cannot be attributed solely to a relatively narrow resonance. Continuum RPA calculations suggest that the enhancement is due to the exhaustion of most S = 0 strength at lower energy and a shift of S = 1 strength to higher energy.