Nuclear tensor term in the relativistic impulse approximation for proton-nucleus elastic scattering

Calculations are presented of the nuclear tensor term in the proton-nucleus optical model potential, generated by the relativistic impulse approximation. We first show that previously published expressions for this term make an unnecessary approximation, and second, clarify its effects in proton-nucleus elastic scattering at intermediate energies. The effects of the nuclear tensor term alone on the spin observables ${\mathit{A}}_{\mathit{y}}$ and Q for p${+}^{40}$Ca and ${}_{}{}^{208}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Pb}$ targets, at 650- and 800-MeV incident laboratory energy are shown. We find that the overall effect of the nuclear tensor term is in general quite small, except for the heaviest target considered.