Low energy scattering and bound state properties of the \pi N, \pi\pi and
K\pi systems are studied as coupled channel problems using inversion potentials
of phase shift data. In a first step we apply the potential model to explain
recent measurements of pionic hydrogen shift and width. Secondly, predictions
of the model for pionium lifetime and shift confirm a well known and widely
used effective range expression. Thirdly, as extension of this confirmation, we
predict an unexpected medium effect of the pionium lifetime which shortens by
several orders of magnitude. The \sigma meson shows a narrow resonance
structure as a function of the medium modified mass with the implication of
being essentially energy independent. Similarly, we see this medium resonance
effect realized for the K\pi system. To support our findings we present also
results for the \rho meson and the \Delta(1232) resonance.Comment: 42 pages, 17 PS figures, REFTeX, epsfig.sty needed, submitted to
Phys. Re