Dynamical Coupled-Channels Effects on Pion Photoproduction

TL;DR

This paper investigates how dynamical coupled-channels effects influence pion photoproduction, showing significant impact on cross sections and form factors, especially in the second resonance region, using a comprehensive meson-baryon interaction model.

Contribution

The study demonstrates the importance of coupled-channels effects and off-shell contributions in accurately modeling pion photoproduction within a dynamical framework.

Findings

Coupled-channels contribute 10-20% to cross sections in the Δ(1232) region.

Significant changes in cross section magnitude and shape in the second resonance region.

Meson cloud effects are prominent at low Q^2, affecting form factors.

Abstract

The electromagnetic pion production reactions are investigated within the dynamical coupled-channels model developed in {\bf Physics Reports, 439, 193 (2007)}. The meson-baryon channels included in this study are $\gamma N$, $\pi N$, $\eta N$, and the $\pi\Delta$, $\rho N$ and $\sigma N$ resonant components of the $\pi\pi N$ channel. With the hadronic parameters of the model determined in a recent study of $\pi N$ scattering, we show that the pion photoproduction data up to the second resonance region can be described to a very large extent by only adjusting the bare $\gamma N \to N^*$ helicity amplitudes, while the non-resonant electromagnetic couplings are taken from previous works. It is found that the coupled-channels effects can contribute about 10 - 20 % of the production cross sections in the $\Delta$ (1232) resonance region, and can drastically change the magnitude and shape of the cross sections in the second resonance region. The importance of the off-shell effects in a dynamical approach is also demonstrated. The meson cloud effects as well as the coupled-channels contributions to the $\gamma N \to N^*$ form factors are found to be mainly in the low $Q^2$ region. For the magnetic M1 $\gamma N \to \Delta$ (1232) form factor, the results are close to that of the Sato-Lee Model. Necessary improvements to the model and future developments are discussed.