Electron scattering on A=3 nuclei from quantum Monte Carlo based approaches

We perform first-principle calculations of electron-nucleus scattering on 3He and 3H using the Green's function Monte Carlo method and two approaches based on the factorization of the final hadronic state: the spectral-function formalism and the short-time approximation. These three methods are benchmarked among each other and compared to the experimental data for the longitudinal and transverse electromagnetic response functions of 3He, and the inclusive cross sections of both 3He and 3H. Since these three approaches are based on the same description of nuclear dynamics of the initial target state, comparing their results enables a precise quantification of the uncertainties inherent to factorization schemes. At sufficiently large values of the momentum transfer, we find an excellent agreement of the Green's function Monte Carlo calculation with experimental data and with both the spectral-function formalism and the short-time approximation. We also analyze the relevance of relativistic effects, whose inclusion becomes crucial to explain data at high momentum and energy transfer.

Automated summary

In this study, we perform calculations and comparisons on electron-nucleus scattering on 3He and 3H using different methods and compare them to experimental data. The results show that at sufficiently large values of momentum transfer, the Green's function Monte Carlo calculation agrees well with experimental data and two other methods. The inclusion of relativistic effects is crucial in explaining data at high momentum and energy transfer.