Quantum interference of ρ0- and ω-mesons in the π N→e+e−N reaction Original Research Article

The study of the πN→ρ0N and πN→ωN amplitudes below and close to the vector meson production threshold (View the MathML source GeV) reveals a rich structure arising from the presence of baryon resonances in this energy range. These resonances are reflected in the interference pattern of the e+e− decays of the ρ0- and ω-mesons produced in π−p and π+n reactions. We discuss the shape and magnitude of the ρ0–ω interference in the π−p→e+e−n and π+n→e+e−p reaction cross sections as functions of the total center of mass energy View the MathML source. We find contrasted results: the interference is largely destructive for the π−p→e+e−n cross section but constructive for the π+n→e+e−p cross section. An experimental study of these reactions would provide significant constraints on the coupling of vector meson–nucleon channels to low-lying baryon resonances.