The pion velocity at chiral restoration and the vector manifestation

We study the effects of Lorentz non-invariance on the physical pion velocity at the critical temperature T_c in an effective theory of hidden local symmetry (HLS) with the “vector manifestation” fixed point. We match at a “matching scale” Λ_M the axial-vector current correlator in the HLS with the one in the operator product expansion for QCD, and present the matching condition to determine the bare pion velocity. We find that the physical pion velocity, which is found to be one at T=T_c when starting from the Lorentz invariant bare HLS, remains close to one with the Lorentz non-invariance, v_π(T_c)=0.83–0.99. This result is quite similar to the pion velocity in dense matter.     

Rigorous pion-pion scattering lengths from threshold πN → ππN data

A new evaluation of the universal ππ scattering length relation is used to extract the ππ s-wave scattering lengths from threshold pion production data. Previous work has shown that the chiral perturbation series relating threshold pion production to ππ scattering lengths appears to converge well only for the isospin-2 case, giving a₂ = −0.031 ± 0.007m_π⁻¹. A model-independent and data-insensitive universal curve then implies a₀ = 0.235 ± 0.03m_π⁻¹ for the isospin-0 scattering length.     

Self energies of the pion and the Δ isobar from the He(e,e′π)H reaction

In a kinematically complete experiment at the Mainz microtron MAMI, pion angular distributions of the ³He(e,e′π⁺)³H reaction have been measured in the excitation region of the Δ resonance to determine the longitudinal (L), transverse (T), and the LT interference part of the differential cross section. The data are described only after introducing self-energy modifications of the pion and Δ-isobar propagators. Using Chiral Perturbation Theory (ChPT) to extrapolate the pion self energy as inferred from the measurement on the mass shell, we deduce a reduction of the π⁺ mass of MeV/c² in the neutron-rich nuclear medium at a density of fm⁻³. Our data are consistent with the Δ self energy determined from measurements of π⁰ photoproduction from ⁴He and heavier nuclei.     

Charged pion photoproduction in the quark model

In terms of a quark model an explanation is given of charged pion photoproduction ratios, at small momentum transfer, in the processes γN → π^±N, γN → π^±Δ. The model is also shown to be consistent with π⁰ photoproduction data.     

Electroproduction of neutral pions and test of the quark-parton model

We present the first data on the inclusive structure function for π⁰-electroproduction. The data are compared to charged pion electroproduction and charged pion production from electron-positron annihilation taking the quark-parton model as a guide.     

Double peak behavior of resistivity curves in Cd doped LaMnO3 perovskite systems

The effect of Cd doping on transport, magnetotransport, and magnetic properties has been investigated in the perovskite La_1−xCd_xMnO₃ (0x0.5) systems. The ρ(T) curves exhibit a sharp metal insulator transition (T_p1), which is close to paramagnetic to ferromagnetic transition (T_c) obtained from M−T curves for all samples. In addition, ρ(T) curves for Cd doped samples exhibit another broad transition (T_P2) below T_p1. This transition becomes more prominent and the transition temperature (T_p2) shifts to lower temperature with increasing Cd content. Such double peak behavior in the ρ(T) curve is attributed to the phase separation between the ferromagnetic metallic phases and the ferromagnetic insulating phases induced by the electronic inhomogeneity in the samples.     

Pion-He scattering length

We present relativistic three-body calculations for the real part of the π-⁴He scattering length Re a. Nucleon binding, exclusion principle and Fermi motion are all included in a very careful manner. Because of our careful evaluation of the single-scattering process the remaining discrepancies with the experimental data can be attributed to higher-order mechanisms involving more than one nucleon. In particular for the πA S-wave interaction at threshold, one expects that these higher-order contributions arise largely from the absorption effect. We have performed our calculations for four current models of the input πN t-matrix. Using a πN t-matrix which reproduces the low energy πN phase shifts correctly leads to Re a_abs -Im a_abs, if we attribute the discrepancy of the calculated value with the accurately determined empirical value of Re a to pion absorption. We determine the strength parameter B₀ in a p² optical potential term from an adjustment to the π-⁴He scattering length. Finally some cross sections are calculated for T^lab_π = 10 MeV and T^lab_π = 15 MeV.     

Effects of meson exchange currents on pion absorption

The effect of the π exchange current on the pion absorption process π⁺ + d → p + p has been investigated. The absorption cross section is significantly enhanced particularly in the energy region above the 33 resonance.     

Single and double dissociation in πp collisions at 11 and 16 GeV/c

The reactions π⁻p → 2π⁻π⁺p, π⁻p → 2π⁻π⁺π^op and π⁻p → 2π⁻2π⁺n are analysed at 11 and 16 GeV/c using longitudinal phase space (LPS) plots. The weighted LPS distributions for π⁻p → 2π⁻π⁺p is dominated by two well separated structures corresponding to single diffraction dissociation of the pion, π⁻p → (2π⁻π⁺)p, and of the proton, π⁻p → π⁻(π⁻π⁺p). The former is more abundant than the latter, and both are approximately constant with energy. In contrast, processes of type π⁻p → (2π)(πp) decrease with increasing energy.

In the five-body reactions the weighted LPS distribution reveals especially at 16 GeV/c a maximum for single dissociation of the proton into 3πp, namely π⁻p → π⁻(π⁻π⁺π^op); this process is likely to be diffractive. The neutron channel has a corresponding maximum displaced toward a multiperipheral configuration π⁻p → π⁻(π⁻2π⁺)n. Another strong maximum corresponds to the pion dissociation π⁻p → (2π⁻π⁺π^o)p. This is interpreted to be an ω-exchange process because no analogous structure occurs in π⁻p → (2π⁻2π⁺)n. Finally, a broad structure reveals double dissociation of both incident particles; it occurs in the two channels π⁻p → (2π⁻π⁺)(π^op) and π⁻p → (2π⁻π⁺)(π⁺n), being stronger in the latter. Further analysis of this process in terms of isospin exchange suggests that it is partially diffractive. Factorization is also discussed.

An appendix gives general aspects of the LPS analysis for the asymptotic study of n-body collisions at very high energy.     

The Hadron to quark-gluon transition in relativistic heavy-ion collisions

In this paper we construct a scenario for the QCD transition from the hadron phase to the quark/gluon phase using physical models for these phases. The hadron phase is modeled by a spectrum of hadrons with masses which drop (with a common scaling factor) towards zero at chiral symmetry restoration. The number of hadronic effective degrees of freedom is limited by the number of microscopic degrees of freedom in the quark/gluon phase. This limitation can be imposed either by fiat or through the introduction of a temperature-dependent excluded volume. Given that the number of degrees of freedom in hadrons and in quarks and gluons are roughly equal, the QCD phase transition is inhibited by the bag constant. The only phase transition seen in lattice-gauge calculations, once low-mass quarks are included, is the restoration of chiral symmetry which occurs at the relatively low temperature of ˜ 150 MeV. At present, lattice gauge calculations do not have the resolution to determine the properties of the higher hadronic states accurately. They do, however, demonstrate that chiral restoration takes place in the (ρ. a₁), ( +)), ( −)) and (π, σ) systems by yielding “screening masses” for chiral partners which are distinct for T < T _xSR and identical for T>T _xSR. Further, within numerical accuracy, these “screening masses” are consistent with pure thermal energies and show no evidence of remaining bare masses once chiral symmetry is restored. These, and other lattice-gauge results, will be discussed in the light of our scenario. We shall also consider the consequences of our picture for relativistic heavy-ion experiments.     

Pion damping width from <Emphasis Type="Italic">SU</Emphasis>(2)×<Emphasis Type="Italic">SU</Emphasis>(2) NJL model

Within the framework of the NJL model, we investigate the modification of the pion damping width in a hot pion gas for temperatures ranging from 0 to 180 MeV. The pion is found to broaden noticeably at T > 60 MeV. Near the chiral phase transition T ～ 180 MeV, the pion width is saturated and amounts to 70 MeV. The main contribution to the width comes from pion-pion collisions. Other contributions are found to be negligibly small.     

Decay of hypernuclei

We present a nonrelativistic transition potential for the weak strangeness-changing reaction ΛN → NN. The potential is based on a one meson exchange model (OME), where, in addition to the long-ranged pion, the exchange of the pseudoscalar K, η, as well as the vector ,ω, K^* mesons is considered. Results obtained for different hypernuclear decay observables are compared to the available experimental data.     

An asymptotic formula for the pion decay constant in a large volume

We derive an asymptotic formula à la Lüscher for the finite-volume correction to the pion decay constant: this is expressed as an integral over the 3π|A_μ|0 amplitude after proper subtraction of the pion pole contribution. We analyze the formula numerically at leading and next-to-leading order in the chiral expansion.     

An energy-independent multipole analysis of pion photoproduction on protons below 450 MeV

In this paper results are presented of a multipole analysis of pion photoproduction on protons at 27 energies below a photon lab energy of 450 MeV, using almost all existing data. The analysis gives rise to one continuous solution. It is shown, however, that when omitting certain asymmetry ratio data, another solution is possible. The latter is closer to certain dispersion-theoretic predictions. A comparison of the solutions to the data and predictions for unmeasured quantities are given. In addition, the solutions are used to evaluate total cross sections for π⁺ and π⁰ photoproduction. As a byproduct of certain fits, the πN coupling constant is evaluated from forward π⁺ differential cross sections. A comparison of the solutions is made to two other multipole analyses.     

Mesonic and non-mesonic decay widths of ΛC

Results are reported on the precise measurement of the lifetime and the weak-decay branching ratios with charged particle(π⁻ and proton) emission from _Λ¹²C formed via ¹²C(π⁺,K⁺) reaction. The π⁻ mesonic decay width is consistent with the calculations including the pion wave function distortion effect. We observed large contribution of the neutron-stimulated decay widths, Γ(Λ + n → n + n), in the non-mesonic weak decay, which cannot be explained by the current theoretical calculations.     

The decay ω(782)→5π in chiral theory.

The arguments are put forward that the many pion decays ω→2π⁺2π⁻π⁰ and π⁺π⁻3π⁰ provide an ideal test site for testing the predictions of chiral models of the vector meson decays into many pions. Using the approach based on the Weinberg Lagrangian or, in a new language, the Lagrangian of hidden local symmetry added with the term induced by the anomalous Lagrangian of Wess and Zumino, the partial widths of these decays are evaluated, and their excitation curves in e⁺e⁻ annihilation are obtained. The discussed are the perspectives of the experimental study of the decays ω→5π in e⁺e⁻ annihilation and photoproduction.     

Search for up-down quark mass differences via isospin symmetry breaking

We performed a series of experiments employing the two pion production reactions p + d → ³He + π⁰ and p + d → ³H + π⁺. The two isopin related reactions differ by a Clebsch Gordan coefficient of 2. We searched for deviations in this ratio in complete angular distributions in the range of the Δ excitation as well as in the vicinity of the η production threshold.