Short-range correlations and transverse response enhancement from meson-exchange currents

Abstract We investigate the role of short-range correlations (SRC) in the transverse nuclear response within the quasielastic peak region, focusing on the one-particle one-hole (1p1h) channel. The calculation is performed in nuclear matter by solving the Bethe–Goldstone equation with the realistic Granada 2013 nucleon–nucleon potential, including both one-body and two-body meson-exchange currents (MEC) of seagull, pion-in-flight, and Δ types. We find that MEC produce a sizable enhancement of the transverse response in the 1p1h channel when acting on correlated nucleon pairs with high-momentum components generated by SRC. This is in contrast to the uncorrelated case, where MEC—dominated by the Δ current—can even yield a negative effect. The results are consistent with previous findings based on the correlated basis function approach, supporting the interpretation that SRC play a central role in the transverse response enhancement from MEC.