Momentum distributions in stripping reactions of radioactive projectiles at intermediate energies

The theory of one-nucleon removal in the stripping reaction (inelastic breakup) on a light target is extended to cover two-dimensional momentum distributions of the reaction residues with the use of realistic profile functions for the core-target and nucleon-target interactions. Examples of the calculated projected parallel- and transverse momentum distributions are given. The transverse momentum distributions, projections on a Cartesian axis perpendicular to the beam direction, show an interesting intermingling of the stripping reaction with elastic scattering of the reaction residue on the target. We also obtain doubly differential distributions of the cross section on the parallel- and transverse-momentum variables. The distributions depend strongly on the value of the magnetic quantum number m. They will be of importance for evaluating acceptance corrections in experiments, and they lead to alignment with the possibility of anisotropic emission of subsequent gamma rays, an interesting spectroscopic tool. Experimental data for proton stripping of B-8 agree with our calculations.