Rescattering Effects in 19 GeV/c PD Interactions and Search for a ΔΔ Component in the Deuteron

Abstract

Data on pd interactions at 19 GeV/c are used to study spectator proton distributions. A large excess of protons in the momentum range > 200 MeV/c is seen, compared to what the spectator model predicts on the basis of the deuteron wave function. We find that this excess approximately can be described by initial and final state rescattering processes. The mass distributions of the spectator-pion systems show a low mass enhancement. This enhancement is interpreted as partly due to kinematics but also due to the rescattering effects. From the prediction of our model an upper limit for the ΔΔ component in the deuteron is 0.1 ± 0.2%.