TDHF calculations for nuclear collisions: model studies of alpha-alpha scattering

A series of time-dependent Hartree-Fock calculations for alpha-alpha scattering have been carried out. The validity of a particular two-dimensional approximation to the full three-dimensional calculation has been investigated. The calculations exhibit a number of features familiar in heavy-ion physics, e.g. deep inelastic scattering and fusion. The degree to which these features are not seen experimentally in alpha-alpha reactions is an indication of the failure of TDHF theory to describe this system. However, the study of such features in such a light 'model' system may give us some insight into the interpretation of collisions involving more complex projectiles. Various prescriptions for extracting reaction cross sections including the construction of an approximate S-matrix element are studied.