DISTORTED-WAVE CALCULATION OF THE (P,P'PI+) REACTION

The direct nuclear reaction (N,N'pi) on light nuclei is investigated u sing an intermediate isobar model. Cross sections for this exclusive r eaction are calculated in distorted-wave approximation, for an inciden t nucleon of energy 300-800 MeV scattering from a closed-shell target, where the final nucleon and pion are detected in coincidence. The res idual nucleus is assumed to be in a particle-hole state of arbitrary a ngular momentum and isospin. This reaction permits a small momentum tr ansfer to the nucleus (1 fm-1) so the nuclear structure is relatively well known. We study the dependence of these cross sections on several factors. The greatest sensitivity is to the self-energy of the interm ediate meson. By considering different spin and parity nuclear final s tates, the nucleus is used as a spin-isospin filter allowing one to se lect certain amplitudes and study them independently. As an example, a detailed numerical study of the coincidence reaction on O-16 is carri ed out. Such coincidence experiments may be useful for studying variou s aspects of the production and propagation of mesons and isobars in n uclei.