Electroproduction of pseudoscalar mesons on the deuteron

A general analysis of polarization phenomena for coherent meson electroproduction on deuterons, $e+ d\to e+ d +P^0$, where $P^0$ is a pseudoscalar $\pi ^0$ or $\eta$-meson, is presented. The spin structure of the electromagnetic current for $P^0$-production at threshold is parametrized in terms of specific (inelastic) threshold electromagnetic form factors which depend on the momentum transfer squared and the effective mass of the produced hadronic system. We give expressions for the structure functions of the reaction $e+\vec{d}\to e +d+ P^0$ (where the deuteron target is polarized) in terms of these threshold form factors. The spin and isospin structures of the $\gamma ^{*}+d\to d+P^0$ amplitudes (where $\gamma ^*$ is a virtual photon) is established in the framework of the impulse approximation and relationships between meson electroproduction on deuterons and on nucleons are given. The reaction of $\pi^0$ electroproduction on deuterons is investigated in detail both at threshold and in the region of $\Delta$-isobar excitation, using the effective Lagrangian approach for the calculation of the amplitudes of the elementary process $\gamma^*+N\to N+\pi$. Special attention is devoted to the analysis of all standard contributions to the exclusive cross section for $d(e,e\pi^0)d$, which are functions of the momentum transfer square, $k^2$, of the excitation energy of the produced hadrons and of the pion production angle, in a region of relatively large momentum transfer. The sensitivity of these contributions to different parametrizations of the $\gamma^*\pi\omega$ form factor as well as to the choice of $NN-$potential is discussed.Comment: 44 pages 19 figure

Coherent π0\pi^0 electroproduction on the deuteron

A general analysis of polarization phenomena for coherent pion electroproduction on deuterons is presented. The spin and isospin structures of the $\gamma ^{*}+d\to d+P^0$ amplitudes (where $\gamma ^*$ is a virtual photon) are established and relationships between meson electroproduction on deuterons and on nucleons are given in the framework of the impulse approximation. The reaction $e+d\to e+d+\pi^0$ is investigated in detail, for a relatively large value of momentum transfer, 0.5 GeV$^2\le -k^2\le$ 2 GeV$^2$, both at threshold and in the region of $\Delta$-isobar excitation. Special attention is devoted to the sensitivity of different contributions to the exclusive cross section for $d(e,e\pi^0)d$, as the $\gamma^*\pi\omega$ form factor or the $NN-$potential. The predicted $k^2$-dependence of the cross section agrees well with the available experimental data

Neutral weak currents in pion electroproduction on the nucleon

Parity violating asymmetry in inclusive scattering of longitudinally polarized electrons by unpolarized protons with $\pi^0$ or $\pi^+$ meson production, is calculated as a function of the momentum transfer squared $Q^2$ and the total energy $W$ of the $\pi N$-system. This asymmetry, which is induced by the interference of the one-photon exchange amplitude with the parity-odd part of the $Z^0$-exchange amplitude, is calculated for the $\gamma^*(Z^*)+p\to N+\pi$ processes ($\gamma^*$ is a virtual photon and $Z^*$ a virtual Z-boson) considering the $\Delta$-contribution in the $s-$channel, the standard Born contributions and vector meson ($\rho$ and $\omega$) exchanges in the $t-$channel. Taking into account the known isotopic properties of the hadron electromagnetic and neutral currents, we show that the P-odd term is the sum of two contributions. The main term is model independent and it can be calculated exactly in terms of fundamental constants. It is found to be linear in $Q^2$. The second term is a relatively small correction which is determined by the isoscalar component of the electromagnetic current. Near threshold and in the $\Delta$-region, this isoscalar part is much smaller (in absolute value) than the isovector one: its contribution to the asymmetry depend on the polarization state (longitudinal or transverse) of the virtual photon.Comment: 30 pages 9 figure