Determination of a dineutron correlation in Borromean nuclei via a quasi-free knockout (p, pn) reaction

To discuss the dineutron correlation in the ground state, the quasi-free neutron knockout reaction on ⁶He is investigated. In the present work, the momentum distribution of the two emitted neutrons is calculated with the α + n + n three-body model and a simple reaction model to assess the effects of the knockout process via the 5He resonance and the target dependence in the momentum distribution. A clear signature of the dineutron correlation can be obtained by choosing the kinematical condition so the process via the 5He resonance is excluded because the ⁵He resonance drastically changes the momentum distribution. Using the proton target is important in the quantitative discussion on the dineutron correlation by the knockout reaction. In addition to theoretical arguments, a possible experimental setup to determine the dineutron correlation via the quasi-free knockout reaction is considered.