Experimental study of the time-dependent rate of K → πππ

The time-dependence of the decay rate of initially pure K⁰ into the final state (π⁺π⁻π⁰) has been studied in search for the decay k_S⁰→π⁺π⁻π⁰. No evidence is found in a sample of 384 observed events. The ratio of the CP -violating K_S⁰ amplitude and the K_L⁰ amplitude is η₊₋₀ = (0.13_−0.20^+0.17) + i(0.17_−0.26^+0.27); the ratio of the CP-conserving K_S⁰ amplitude and the K_L⁰ amplitude is < 0.4. The energy dependence of the K⁰→π⁺π⁻π⁰ matrix element is found to be a₊₋₀ = −0.31 ± 0.03.     

Search for narrow NNπ resonances in exclusive pp→ppππ measurements

Narrow structures in the range of a few MeV have been searched for in ppπ⁺ and ppπ⁻ invariant mass spectra (M_ppπ⁺ and M_ppπ⁻) obtained from exclusive measurements of the pp→ppπ⁺π⁻ reaction at T_p=725,750 and 775 MeV using the PROMICE/WASA detector at CELSIUS. The selected reaction is particularly well suited for the search for dibaryon resonances decoupled from NN and/or NΔ. In the mass range 2020 MeV/c²<m_dibaryon<2085 MeV/c² no narrow structures could be identified on the 3σ level of statistical significance neither in M_ppπ⁻ nor in M_ppπ⁺ giving an upper limit (95% C.L.) for dibaryon production in this reaction of σ<20 nb.     

Hypernuclear production in the (K, π) reaction

Cross sections for the production of hypernuclei were measured in the reaction A(K⁻, π⁻) _ΛA. on light and heavy nuclear targets, using a separated K⁻ beam at the CERN Proton Synchrotron. The pions were detected in the forward direction. The results are compared with cross sections calculated under the assumption that the reaction took place on a single neutron. The good agreement between the measured and the calculated cross sections justifies the use of the (K⁻, π⁻) reaction in order to obtain spectroscopic information on hypernuclei.     

Measurement of the slope parameter for the neutral pion spectrum in KL → πππ decay

The π⁰ spectrum in the K_L⁰ → 3π decay was measured using a wire chambers magnetic spectrometer. In the usual approximation, the matrix element can be expressed as: M² ≈ 1 + 2a₀(M_K/M_π²)(2T_π⁰−T_π⁰max) + a₁(M_K²/M_π⁴)(2T_π⁰−T_π⁰max)². We obtained a₀ = −0.282 ± 0.011 and a₁ consistent with zero.     

Upper limit on the decay Σ(1385)→Σγ and cross section for γΣ→Λπ

Coherent Λπ⁻ production on Pb of 600 GeV Σ⁻ hyperons has been studied with the SELEX facility at Fermilab. Using the Primakoff formalism, we set a 90% CL upper limit on the radiative decay width Γ[Σ(1385)⁻→Σ⁻γ]<9.5 keV, and estimate the cross section for γΣ⁻→Λπ⁻ at  GeV to be 56±16 μb.     

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.     

Symmetry breaking and the decays ψ′ → J/ψπ(η) and J/ψ → η(η′) γ

The theoretical mechanisms for the decays ψ′ → ψπ⁰ and ψ′ → ψη, which violate SU₂ and SU₃, respectively discussed. It is argued that symmetry breaking in the decay amplitudes may be as important as π⁰ −η −η′ mixing. The π⁰ −η mechanism ψ′ → ψν → ψπ⁰ leads to Γ(ψ′ → ψπ⁰) = (3.3±1.0) × 10⁻³ Γ(ψ′ → ψν), but this number may be enhanced by a factor as large as 12 by π⁰−η′ mixing and isospin violation in the decay amplitude. The related decays ψ → ηγ and ψ → η′γ are also discussed.     

An analysis of the scattering π−C around the N resonance

Measurements of the elastic scattering π⁻−¹²C between 120 and 280 MeV permit an investigation of the Kisslinger-Ericson π-nuclear optical potential around the (3, 3) resonance. For this analysis nearly all parameters are assumed to be fixed by other reliable measurements resp. evaluations, apart from two parameters for the strength of the gradient potential (complex c_o). We explore the lines of equal χ² in the complex c_o plane and find two solutions. One of them can be interpreted as the physical solution.     

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.     

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.     

Deux trajectoires de regge dans la reaction πp → πn

The possibility of describing the high-energy reaction π⁻p^→π⁰n with two Regge trajectories (t) and _'(t) is studied in more detail. These trajectories are assumed to be exactly linear in t, with (t) constrained to pass through (m²) = 1. We examine hypotheses in which (t) obeys either the Gell-Mann mechanism or the Chew mechanism, and in which '(t) is or is not a conspiring trajectory. The model is in good agreement with the data in practically all cases; greater experimental accuracy would be necessary to distinguish between the various hypothesis. Predictions are given for the neutron polarization at |t| < 1 GeV².     

η → 3π to one loop

We calculate the amplitude of the decays η → π⁰π⁺π⁻ and η → π⁰π⁰π⁰ to first non-leading order in the low-energy expansion. It is shown that the infrared singularities of chiral perturbation theory strongly enhance the perturbation generated by the quark mass term. The corrections of order m_s increase the current algebra prediction for the rate by more than a factor of two and remove the well-known discrepancy between the low-energy theorems of current algebra and experiment.     

The Li(K, π)ΣH reaction and narrow Σ states

Small-angle cross sections are calculated for ⁶Li(K⁻, π⁺)_Σ⁶H at 720 MeV/c, in order to intepret the data of the preceding paper. Due to the spin-isospin selectivity of ΣN → ΛN conversion, the substitution 1s_N → 1s_Σ leads to a narrow resonance high in the Σ continuum. Further tests of selectivity with ^3,4He targets are suggested. The energy shifts of Σ states which arise from the spin-isospin dependence of the ΣN interaction are discussed.     

Compton scattering by the proton through θcms = 75° and 90° in the Δ-resonance region

Differential cross sections for Compton scattering by the proton have been measured in the energy interval between 200 and 500 MeV at scattering angles of θcms = 75° and θcms = 90° using the CATS, the CATS/TRAJAN, and the COPP setups with the Glasgow Tagger at MAMI (Mainz). The data are compared with predictions from dispersion theory using photo-meson amplitudes from the recent VPI solution SM95. The experiment and the theoretical procedure are described in detail. It is found that the experiment and predictions are in agreement as far as the energy dependence of the differential cross sections in the Δ-range is concerned. However, there is evidence that a scaling down of the resonance part of the M1+3/2 photo-meson amplitude by (2.8 ± 0.9)% is required in comparison with the VPI analysis. The deduced value of the M1+3/2-photoproduction amplitude at the resonance energy of 320 MeV is: |M1+3/2| = (39.6 ± 0.4) × 10−3 mπ+−1.     

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.     

The reaction Kp→Λπ in the c.m. energy range 1915 to 2168 MeV

A formationstudy of the reaction K⁻p→Λπ^o at 13 c.m. energies between 1915 and 2168 MeV is presented. Experimental differential cross sections and polarizations are given as expansions of Legendre polynomials and associated Legendre polynomials respectively. Partial wave analysis confirms the assignment of the Σ(2030) and the assignment of the Σ(1915). The parameters of these resonances are determined. The possible existence of other resonances coupled to this channel is investigated.     

Model amplitude analysis of πp→ππn

We present an amplitude analysis of the process π⁻p→π⁺π⁻n at 15 GeV/c assuming spin and phase coherence of the production amplitude. The bearing of the results on aspects of dipion production phenomenology is discussed.     

The asymmetry in π−He scattering

We show that the π⁺−³He asymmetry data obtained in a recent TRIUMF experiment at T_π = 100 MeV can be understood in terms of the elementary πN amplitudes. Through a comparison to a full optical-potential calculation that employs realistic Faddeev wave functions for the trinucleon we show that all nuclear-structure dependence cancels for at lower energies. At higher pion energies around the Δ-resonance region the sign flip of offers the possibility of extracting information about the smaller partial waves.     

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.