Isobar production in nucleon-nucleon collisions

Abstract

Single-isobar production in NN collisions is considered in a model in which the amplitude is approximated by the exchange of the different multi-pion resonances. It is shown that contributions other than single-pion exchange are important in understanding the isobar production process. Total cross-sections, c.m. energy spectra and c.m. angular distributions are calculated for different assumptions about the form factors, and the type of information that can be derived from each is discussed. The results of the calculation are compared with experimental data, and experiments are outlined which will enable one to achieve a better understanding of the mechanism of isobar production.