Non-coherent contributions in charge-exchange reactions and $\eta$--$\eta'$ mixing

Abstract

We analyse $K^- p \to (\eta, \eta',\pi^0) \Lambda$ on the basis of the fit of data in a wide region of energies, and $\pi^- p \to (\eta, \eta') n$ at the energies of GAMS-4$\pi$. We show that disagreements between the data and the predictions of Regge theory may be explained by the mode change of summation of intermediate contributions at increasing energy, from coherent to non-coherent. A method of experimental measurement of the non-coherent contributions is proposed. On the basis of available data on the charge-exchange reactions the $\eta$--$\eta'$ mixing is estimated.Comment: 18 pages, 4 figures; version to appear in EPJ