Microscopic relativistic description of proton-nucleus scattering

Relativistic microscopic calculations are presented for proton elastic scattering from ${}_{}{}^{12}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{C}$, ${}_{}{}^{16}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{O}$, ${}_{}{}^{40}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Ca}$, ${}_{}{}^{48}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Ca}$, ${}_{}{}^{90}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Zr}$, and ${}_{}{}^{208}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Pb}$ at laboratory kinetic energies near 200 MeV. The calculations go beyond the original relativistic impulse approximation to include (a) medium modifications from Pauli blocking, (b) the resolution of ambiguities in the relativistic NN amplitude by using pseudovector πN coupling, and (c) an explicit treatment of exchange terms in the optical potential. The results quantitatively reproduce all measured spin observables (both analyzing power and spin rotation function) except at very large angles. The energy dependence and sensitivities are discussed.