The role of the $P_{11}(1710)$ in the $NN\to N\Sigma K$ reaction

Abstract

Using the resonance model, which was successfully applied for the study of the $pp\to p\Lambda K^{+}$ reaction, we investigate $NN\to N\Sigma K$ reactions that should provide cleaner information about resonance excitations and meson exchange contributions. For this purpose we demonstrate that the invariant mass distribution for the $\Sigma K$ system, as well as the Dalitz plot for the $NN\to N\Sigma K$ reaction, provide direct information about the $\Sigma K$ production mechanism, which can be tested in the near future by experiments at COSY.

Comments: 25 pages, LaTeX, including 13 ps-figures, UGI-98-36, ADP-98-68/T335, to be publish in Nucl. Phys. A