Meson production in high-energy electron-nucleus scattering

TL;DR

This paper reviews and extends analysis of pseudoscalar meson production in high-energy electron-nucleus scattering, focusing on decay rates in the double-Coulomb region and the energy conditions for heavier mesons.

Contribution

It provides an extended analysis of meson production in the nuclear Coulomb field, emphasizing decay rate determination and energy requirements for different meson masses.

Findings

Decay rates are most accessible in the double-Coulomb region with nearly real photons.

Higher meson mass requires increased electron energy for accurate decay rate measurement.

Background hadronic contributions must be small for precise decay rate determination.

Abstract

Pseudoscalar mesons can be produced and studied in high-energy electron-nucleus scattering. We review and extend our previous analysis of meson production in the nuclear Coulomb field. The $P\rightarrow \gamma \gamma$ decay rates are most directly determined for mesons produced in the double-Coulomb region where both photons are nearly real, and provided the background-hadronic contribution remains small. The larger the mass of the meson the higher the electron energy needed to assure such a condition.