Final state interaction in the reaction NN -> eta NN

Abstract

The production of $\eta$ mesons in $NN$ collisions in the near threshold region is analyzed with special emphasis on the role of final state interaction which is calculated using three-body scattering theory. The three-body aspects are shown to be very important in interpreting experimental results for the total cross section of $pp\to \eta pp$. Furthermore, energy spectra and angular distributions of the emitted particles are calculated and compared to experimental data.

Comments: 13 pages revtex4, 8 figures