The antinucleon-nucleon interaction at low energy : annihilation dynamics

TL;DR

This paper reviews the properties and dynamics of low-energy antiproton-proton annihilation, highlighting observed selection rules, phenomenological models, and the influence of initial- and final-state interactions.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive analysis of annihilation mechanisms, emphasizing the dynamical selection rules and phenomenological approaches based on quark dynamics and symmetry.

Findings

Certain annihilation modes are suppressed by an order of magnitude.

Selection rules significantly influence annihilation outcomes.

Phenomenological models help explain the observed suppression patterns.

Abstract

The general properties of antiproton-proton annihilation at rest are presented, with special focus on the two-meson final states. The data exhibit remarkable dynamical selection rules : some allowed annihilation modes are suppressed by one order of magnitude with respect to modes of comparable phase-space. Various phenomenological analyses are reviewed, based on microscopic quark dynamics or symmetry considerations. The role of initial- and final-state interaction is also examined.