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On the Spin of the -Meson
Phys. Rev. 83, 735 – Published 15 August, 1951
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRev.83.735
Abstract
The behavior of a -meson of spin is investigated for the processes , , . These processes have been chosen because they give direct information on the nature of the -meson and do not require second quantization of the -meson field, which is not feasible for spin values greater than 1 when electromagnetic interactions are present. The theory used to describe the -meson is due to Rarita and Schwinger. The spectra for the decay are obtained for the same modes of decay considered by Tiomno and Wheeler for -mesons of spin ½. Their most relevant feature is that none of them goes to zero at maximum electron energy. It is to be hoped that more careful measurements of this spectrum will permit a decision on the spin value of the -meson. The -capture is studied by assuming the process to happen via an intermediate scalar or pseudoscalar -meson. Comparison with the lifetime for -decay and use of experimental data allow an evaluation of the constant coupling the -meson to nucleons. The plausibility of this value is taken as a test for the plausibility of the assumed spin value of the -meson. The results do not appear to contradict present-day evidence, due to the uncertainty of the nuclear matrix elements. The formulas obtained apply of course to any spin particle undergoing similar processes.
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