Perturbative QCD and factorization of coherent pion photoproduction on the deuteron

S. J. Brodsky, J. R. Hiller, Ji Chueng-Ryong, G. A. Miller

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Abstract

We analyze the predictions of perturbative QCD for pion photoproduction on the deuteron γD → π0D at large momentum transfer using the reduced amplitude formalism. The cluster decomposition of the deuteron wave function at small binding only allows the nuclear coherent process to proceed if each nucleon absorbs an equal fraction of the overall momentum transfer. Furthermore, each nucleon must scatter while remaining close to its mass shell. Thus the nuclear photoproduction amplitude script M signγD → π0D(u,t) factorizes as a product of three factors: (1) the nucleon photoproduction amplitude script M signγN1 → π0N1(u/4,t/4) at half of the overall momentum transfer, (2) a nucleon form factor FN2(t/4) at half the overall momentum transfer, and (3) the reduced deuteron form factor fd(t), which, according to perturbative QCD, has the same monopole falloff as a meson form factor. A comparison with the recent JLAB data for γD → π0D of Meekins et al. [Phys. Rev. C 60, 052201 (1999)] and the available γp → π0p shows good agreement between the perturbative QCD prediction and experiment over a large range of momentum transfers and center-of-mass angles. The reduced amplitude prediction is consistent with the constituent counting rule p11Tscript M signγD → π0D → F(θc.m.) at large momentum transfer. This is found to be consistent with measurements for photon lab energies Elab> 3 GeV at θc.m. = 90° and Elab> 10 GeV at 136°.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number055204
Pages (from-to)552041-552048
Number of pages8
JournalPhysical Review C - Nuclear Physics
Volume64
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2001

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