Probing the quantum-mechanical equivalent-photon spectrum for electromagnetic dissociation of relativistic uranium projectiles

Electromagnetic fission cross sections for the reactions U + (Be, C, Al, Cu, In, Au, U) at E/A = 0.6 and 1.0 GeV are compared to theoretical calculations using recently proposed quantum-mechanical equivalent-photon spectra. In contrast to semi-classical calculations, systematically lower cross sections are obtained that cannot reproduce the experimental results. Furthermore, we point out that the study of electromagnetic fission cross sections or electromagnetic 1-neutron removal cross sections alone cannot provide unambiguous information on the excitation of the double giant dipole resonance.