Double charge exchange and one-pion production in π He collisions at 1.7 GeV/c

We present the results of a study of the exclusive reactions π^{+ 4}He → π⁻ 4p (double charge exchange, DCE) and π^{+ 4}He → π⁺ π⁻ 3pn (one-pion production). The experiment was performed with the Oxford/RHEL helium bubble chamber irradiated with a 1.7 GeV/c π⁺ beam. A general review of DCE models is presented and experimental results at other energies are discussed in the light of these models. None of the existing theoretical models is compatible with out data at 1.7 GeV/c. We propose a new mechanism for DCE, involving three nucleons, which reproduces the integrated as well as the differential cross sections. Some consequences for other models are also discussed.