Models of breakup: a final state interaction problem

In this paper, we discuss the evolution of breakup models from fully quantum mechanical, such as the Ichimura–Austern–Vincent model to semiclassical, to eikonal approximations following the insight on the mechanism first proposed by Hussein and McVoy (HM) for the presently called stripping term. In particular we concentrate on, and stress that, the correct implementation of a quantum mechanical model of breakup requires the use of energy dependent interactions and the energy averaging procedure is a key point to understand the difference among models. On the other hand using fixed energy potentials is one of the steps towards the high energy eikonal limit first proposed by HM. However the intermediate semiclassical transfer to the continuum model of Bonaccorso and Brink does use an energy dependent nucleon–target optical potential, while fixing the core–target interaction at the incident energy. The relationship between these methods is clarified.