Two-Pion Production in Proton-Proton Collisions -- Experimental Total Cross Sections and their Isospin Decomposition

Abstract

The two-pion production in pp-collisions has been investigated at CELSIUS in exclusive measurements from threshold up to $T_p$ = 1.36 GeV. Total and differential cross sections have been obtained for the channels $pnπ^+π^0$, $ppπ^+π^-$, $ppπ^0π^0$ and also $nnπ^+π^+$. For intermediate incident energies $T_p >$ 1 GeV, i.e. in the region which is beyond the Roper excitation but at the onset of $ΔΔ$ excitation, the total $ppπ^0π^0$ cross section falls behind theoretical predictions by as much as an order of magnitude near 1.2 GeV, whereas the $nnπ^+π^+$ cross section is a factor of five larger than predicted. An isospin decompostion of the total cross sections exhibits a s-channel-like energy dependence in the region of the Roper excitation as well as a significant contribution of an isospin 3/2 resonance other than the $Δ(1232)$. As possible candidates the $Δ(1600)$ and the $Δ(1700)$ are discussed.