Study of the reaction pi(-)p ->eta pi(0)n at 32, 38, and 100 GeV/c

The reaction pi(-)p --> eta pi(0)n at primary pi(-) meson momenta of 32, 38 , and 100 GeV/c has been studied by using the GAMS facilities. A partial-wa ve analysis has been performed in the effective-mass range 0.77 less than o r equal to M-eta pi 0 < 1.82 GeV/c(2). A peak associated with the a(2) meso n is clearly seen in the P+-wave. The difference of the D+- and P+-wave pha ses changes abruptly in the region of the a(2) mass. A significant contribu tion of the P+ wave is observed at the a(2) mass value and above, but this wave does not show a clear-cut resonance behavior. No significant contribut ion from exchanges of unnatural spin-parity are observed with the exception of the S-wave contribution in the region of the a(0) mass and the D-0-wave contribution in the region of the a(2) mass.