Total cross section for p−d breakup below 30 MeV

The total cross section for p−d breakup is studied in terms of the elastic S-matrix through the unitary condition. Calculations using the complex Kohn variational method along with the Pair Correlated Hyperspherical Harmonic basis are presented. The results have been restricted to energies below Ep=30 MeV where Coulomb effects are expected to be sizable and are compared to the existing data. Two different measurements have been found in the literature: 40 years ago, Gibbons and Macklin [Phys. Rev. 114 (1959) 571] and 26 years ago, Carlson et al. [Lett. Nuovo Cimento 8 (1973) 319]. The calculations are found to be in reasonable agreement with these old data, though a discrepancy is observed near the deuteron breakup threshold. Moreover, a detailed analysis of the contributions to the observable from different partial waves has been performed. Unexpectedly, the main contribution for a wide range of energies has been detected in the J=3/2− state.