https://doi.org/10.1140/epja/i2003-10239-3
The ηHe scattering length revisited
1
Institut für Kernphysik, Forschungszentrum Jülich, D-52425, Jülich, Germany
2
Department of Physical Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 64, FIN-00014, Helsinki, Finland
* e-mail: a.sibirtsev@fz-juelich.de
Received:
10
November
2003
Accepted:
30
June
2004
Published online:
11
November
2004
The possible existence of η-mesic nuclei poses an interesting and still open issue of research. Since the occurence of such η-nucleus bound states is reflected in the corresponding η-nucleus scattering length, we critically review the present knowledge for the η3He system. Specifically, we scrutinize the available experimental information for the reaction p + d↦η + 3 He which is commonly used to extract the η3 He scattering length. We point out several striking discrepancies between the various measurements. Subject to those inconsistencies, we deduce a value a = | 4.3±0.3| + i(0.5±0.5) fm.
PACS: 21.45.+v Few-body systems – / 14.40.Aq Π, K, and η mesons – / 11.80.Fv Approximations (eikonal approximation, variational principles, etc.) – / 36.10.Gv Mesonic atoms and molecules, hyperonic atoms and molecules –
© Società Italiana di Fisica and Springer-Verlag, 2004
