In-medium properties of the D13(1520) nucleon resonance

Abstract

The in-medium properties of the D13(1520) nucleon resonance were studied via photoproduction of pi0-mesons from nuclei (C, Ca, Nb, Pb) with the TAPS-detector at the Mainz MAMI accelerator. The inclusive (single and multiple pion production) data disagree with model predictions which explain the disappearance of the second resonance bump in total photoabsorption via a medium modification of the D13 --> N rho decay. The exclusive single pi0 production data show no broadening of the resonance structure beyond Fermi smearing. Although due to final state interaction effects pion production tests the nucleus at densities less than the average nuclear density, both results together cast doubt on attempts to explain the vanishing of the second resonance bump for heavy nuclei by a broadening of the D13-resonance in nuclear matter.

9 pages, 5 figures