Low-energy scattering and photoproduction of $\hat{I}\cdot$-mesons on three-body nuclei

Abstract

The optical potential approach for low-energy scattering of $\hat{I}\cdot$-mesons on three-body nuclei is compared to an exact treatment of the $\hat{I}\cdot 3N$ system using four-body scattering theory with separable interactions in s-waves only. The higher-order terms including the interaction of the struck nucleon with the surrounding nuclear medium and virtual target excitations in between successive $\hat{I}\cdot$-scatterings are found to cause important corrections. Effects of final state interaction in $\hat{I}\cdot$-photoproduction on ${}^3$H and ${}^3$He are also studied and sizable contributions beyond the optical model approach are found.

15 pages revtex4 including 7 figures