The π N → e +e?N reaction close to the vector-meson production threshold

The π^? p→e ⁺ e ^? n and π⁺ n→e ⁺ e ^? p reaction cross sections are calculated below and in the vicinity of the vector-meson (?⁰,ω) production threshold. These processes are largely responsible for the emission of e ⁺e^? pairs in pion-nucleus reactions and contribute to the dilepton spectra observed in relativistic heavy ion collisions. They are dominated by the decay of low-lying baryon resonances into vector-meson-nucleon channels. The vector mesons materialize subsequently into e ⁺ e^? pairs. Using πN→?⁰ N and πN→ωN, amplitudes calculated in the center of mass energy interval 1.4 < √s<1.8 GeV, we compute the π^? p→e ⁺ e ^? n and π⁺ n→e ⁺ e ^? p reaction cross sections in these kinematics. Below the vector-meson production threshold, the π⁰?ω interference in the e ⁺ e^? channel appears largely destructive for the π^? p→e ⁺ e ^? n cross section and constructive for the π⁺ n→e ⁺ e ^? p cross section. The pion beam and the HADES detector at GSI offer a unique possibility to measure these effects. Such data would provide strong constraints on the coupling of vector-meson-nucleon channels to low-lying baryon resonances.