Relativistic Faddeev equations for three-body scattering at arbitrary energies are formulated in momentum space and in first order in the two-body transition operator directly solved in terms of momentum vectors without employing a partial wave decomposition. Relativistic invariance is incorporated within the framework of Poincaré invariant quantum mechanics and presented in some detail. Based on a Malfliet-Tjon-type interaction, observables for elastic and breakup scattering are calculated up to projectile energies of 1 GeV. The influence of kinematic and dynamic relativistic effects on those observables is systematically studied. Approximations to the two-body interaction embedded in the three-particle space are compared to the exact treatment.

• Received 1 February 2007

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.76.014010