Pion-nucleon scattering in chiral perturbation theory II: Fourth order calculation

Abstract

We analyse elastic-pion nucleon scattering to fourth order in heavy baryon chiral perturbation theory, extending the third order study published in Nucl. Phys. A640 (1998) 199. We use various partial wave analyses to pin down the low-energy constants from data in the physical region. The S-wave scattering lengths are consistent with recent determinations from pionic hydrogen and deuterium. We find an improved description of the P-waves. We also discuss the pion-nucleon sigma term and problems related to the prediction of the subthreshold parameters.

28 pp, LaTeX2e, uses epsf, 6 figs, better discussion of the convergence issues, accepted for publication in Nuclear Physics A