Precision measurements of the pp ---> pi+ pn and pp ---> pi+ d reactions: Importance of long-range and tensor force effects

The COSY-GEM collaboration Budzanowski, A. ; Chatterjee, A. ; Hawranek, P. ; et al.
Phys.Rev.C 79 (2009) 061001, 2009.
Inspire Record 818511 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.52961

Inclusive measurements of pion production in proton--proton collisions in the forward direction were undertaken at 400 and 600 MeV at COSY using the Big Karl spectrograph. The high resolution in the $\pi^+$ momentum ensured that there was an unambiguous separation of the $pp\to {\pi}^+d/\pi^+pn$ channels. Using these and earlier data, the ratio of the production cross sections could be followed through the $\Delta$ region and compared with the predictions of final state interaction theory. Deviations are strongly influenced by long-range terms in the production operator and the tensor force in the final $pn$ system. These have been investigated in a realistic $pp\to\pi^+d/\pi^+pn$ calculation that includes $S \rightleftharpoons D$ channel coupling between the final nucleons. A semi-quantitative understanding of the observed effects is achieved.

6 data tables

Forward differential cross section for P P --> PI+ P N for beam momenta 1640 MeV.

Forward differential cross section for P P --> PI+ P N for beam momenta 1220 MeV.

Forward differential cross section for P P --> PI+ P N for beam momenta 955 MeV.

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