Mechanisms of the Reaction ${\pi }^{-}p\to a_0^0(980)n\to {\pi }^0\eta n$ at High Energies

Abstract

Over the last twenty years, it was assumed that the reaction ${\pi }^{-}p\to a_0^0(980)n\to {\pi }^0\eta n$ at high energies is dominated by $b_1$ Regge pole exchange. We show that the new Brookhaven and Serpukhov data on the $t$ distributions for this reaction can be explained within the framework of the Regge pole model only if the ${\rho }_2$ Regge pole exchange conspiring with its daughter plays a crucial role. The tentative estimates of the absolute ${\pi }^{-}p\to a_0^0(980)n\to {\pi }^0\eta n$ reaction cross section are obtained. The contributions of the one-pion exchange mechanism and the Regge cuts are also estimated.

Comments: Talk given at HADRON'97