Scalar Mesons and Multichannel Amplitudes

Abstract

Properties of scalar-isoscalar mesons are analysed using separable interactions in three decay channels: pion-pion, kaon-antikaon and an effective 2pion-2pion. We obtain different solutions by fitting various data on the pion-pion and kaon-antikaon phase shifts and inelasticities including the CERN-Cracow-Munich measurements of the pion- p --> pion+ pion- n reaction on a polarized target. Analytical structure of the meson-meson multichannel amplitudes is studied with a special emphasis on the role played by the S-matrix zeroes. S-matrix poles are found in the complex energy plane and interpreted as scalar resonances. We see a wide f0(500), a narrow f0(980) and a relatively narrow f0(1400). In one solution a resonance at about 1700 MeV is also found. Total, elastic and inelastic channel cross sections, branching ratios and coupling constants are evaluated and compared with data. We construct approximation to our model and show that the Breit-Wigner approach has a limited phenomenological applicability.