Photoproduction of charged pions from 16O

Abstract

The photoproduction of π + from 16O(o +, g.s.) leading to the four bound states J π = 0 −, 1 −, 2 −, 3 − in 16N is studied by means of the transition amplitude obtained in impulse approximation. Ambiquity in the nuclear structure is eliminated by recognizing that the muon capture process to the same final states, μ − + 16O(0 +) → ν μ + 16 N (J π, T = 1) involves similar matrix elements and by using the same wave functions which predict correctly the partial capture rates. It is found in comparing the results with available experimental data that there still remains a factor of two discrepancy which may be attributed to the uncertainty in the production amplitude itself.