Production of Eta-Mesons in Collisions of Nucleons and Delta-Resonances

Abstract

We calculate the cross section for the production of $η$-mesons via \mbox{$ΔN \to N N η$} in a relativistic One-Boson-Exchange-Model. Using this cross section we then determine the probability for the production of an $η$-meson by a $Δ$-resonance moving in nuclear matter. The result is compared to prescriptions in BUU-calculations in which \et-production proceeds both through a direct channel and through the sequential process $Δ\to N π; πN \to N η$.

revised version: large parts have been rewritten, there are two new figures. A discusion of effects of multi-body reactions of the intermediate pion on our results has been added