# Study of Δ⁢Δ excitations in the reaction 𝑛+𝑝→𝑑+𝜋⁢𝜋

## 1 Introduction

Experimental measurements of the reaction $`n+pd+\pi \pi `$ at neutron momenta of 1.88 GeV/c  show a typical cross section structure known as the ABC–effect . The main features of this effect can be explained by assuming a double $`\mathrm{\Delta }(1232)`$ excitation to be the dominant reaction mechanism for the $`2\pi `$ production . Therefore the $`n+pd+\pi \pi `$ reaction allows us to study the influence of direct $`\mathrm{\Delta }\mathrm{\Delta }`$ and $`\mathrm{\Delta }N`$ interaction potentials. The Feynman diagram corresponding to the $`\mathrm{\Delta }\mathrm{\Delta }`$ mechanism is shown in fig. 1.

## 2 Theoretical Framework

In order to incorporate the interaction dynamics of the $`\mathrm{\Delta }\mathrm{\Delta }`$ system in a proper and efficient way, we apply a coupled channel approach  deduced from $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$–hole models. The matrix element is calculated using the so–called source function formalism . We set up a system of coupled integro–differential equations for the correlated $`\mathrm{\Delta }\mathrm{\Delta }`$ wavefunction, which can be solved in configuration space with the Lanczos method . The $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ resonance is treated thereby as a quasi–particle with a given mass and an intrinsic, energy–dependent width. We construct the interaction potentials $`V_{\mathrm{\Delta }\mathrm{\Delta }}`$ and $`V_{\mathrm{\Delta }N}`$ within a meson exchange model . The exchanged mesons taken into account are the pion ($`\pi `$), the rho ($`\rho `$), the omega ($`\omega `$), and the sigma ($`\sigma `$). All the parameters of the potentials, such as the coupling constants, cutoffs and meson masses, are determined from other reaction studies, like single pion production and charge exchange reactions on the deuteron .

## 3 Results and Discussion

Fig. 3 shows the result of our full model calculation compared to the experimental deuteron spectrum for $`\theta _d=0^o`$. The overall agreement is very good. The cross section exhibits characteristic enhancements at missing masses close to $`2m_\pi `$ (corresponding to maximal and minimal deuteron recoil momentum in the laboratory frame) and at the largest missing masses possible (the central peak). This structure can be easily understood as follows . Let us define

$$K=k_1+k_2,k=k_1k_2,$$
(1)   
where $`k_1,k_2`$ denote the four–momenta of the two pions. The $`\mathrm{\Delta }\mathrm{\Delta }`$ mechanism is most efficient if both $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$’s are on–mass shell, which requires

$$s_{\mathrm{\Delta }_1}=\frac{1}{4}(k_d+K+k)^2=\frac{1}{4}(k_d+Kk)^2=s_{\mathrm{\Delta }_2}.$$
(2)   
This condition is equivalent to $`k_dk=0`$ and can be satisfied in two ways:

1. $`k=0`$ and hence $`\sqrt{K^2}=M_{\pi \pi }=2m_\pi `$, or
2. $`\stackrel{}{k}_d=0`$ in the rest frame of the two pions.

In the latter case, the $`2\pi `$ CMS is identical to the rest frame of the deuteron and hence the overall CMS. The two pions pick up the whole kinetic energy which means $`M_{\pi \pi }=`$ max. This leads to the high mass enhancement which corresponds to the anti–parallel decay of the two $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$’s, while the low mass enhancement ($`k=0`$) corresponds to the parallel decay.

These two different kinematical situations are also manifest in the angular distributions shown in fig. 3. For $`k_d=1.5`$ GeV/c (in the lab frame), the pions are emitted back to back and any angle between $`\stackrel{}{k}`$ and the beam axis is kinematically possible. The shape of the cross section reflects the spin–structure of the $`\mathrm{\Delta }\mathrm{\Delta }`$ excitation . For $`k_d=`$ 1.1 and 1.9 GeV/c, the pions are emitted nearly parallel and have identical energies, hence $`\stackrel{}{k}`$ is dominantly perpendicular to the beam axis.

Fig. 4 demonstrates the influence of the $`\mathrm{\Delta }N`$ and $`\mathrm{\Delta }\mathrm{\Delta }`$ interaction potentials in our model calculation. The result for $`V=0`$ (dashed–dotted line) clearly shows the three peak structure as discussed above. The potential $`V_{\mathrm{\Delta }N}`$ is attractive and thus results in even more pronounced peaks (dashed line) since it simply lowers the overall excitation energy. Inclusion of $`V_{\mathrm{\Delta }\mathrm{\Delta }}`$, however, leads to a redistribution of strength from the peaks towards the kinematical less favored situations between (solid line). This is the case because the optimal configuration with both $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$’s on mass-shell can now also be reached if the initial momentum distribution was asymmetric.

To summarize we have shown that 1. the $`\mathrm{\Delta }\mathrm{\Delta }`$ excitation is the dominant reaction mechanism in the $`npd+\pi \pi `$ two pion production at $`k_n=1.88`$ GeV/c, and 2. the intermediate $`\mathrm{\Delta }\mathrm{\Delta }`$ and $`\mathrm{\Delta }N`$ interactions play an important role in this reaction which therefore may serve as a tool for closer examination of the interaction potentials.

This work was supported in part by the Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes. We are very grateful to C. Hanhart and J. Speth for many helpful discussions.