The angular dependence of the polarization produced in the elastic scattering of 8-Mev protons by complex nuclei has been measured for 23 elements. The polarization exhibits a smooth dependence on mass number and scattering angle for most of the elements studied. The systematics in the angular distributions are reproduced by an optical model calculation in which only the radius is permitted to vary.

• Received 25 May 1961

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRev.124.199