Rho-meson Exchange Research Articles

The triton beta decay, a test of the axial vector

The expectation value of the axial-vector matrix element is calculated in the beta decay of the triton. Using a realistic wave function and including effects from pion and rho-meson exchange, as well as relativistic corrections to the one-body operator, we obtain agreement with the experimental value deduced 〈 στ〉=√3 (0.958 ± 0.008) .

Exchange current corrections to the proton-proton reaction

The contribution from tau- and rho-meson exchange to the rate of the proton-proton reaction is found to be approximately 2%. For the one-body operator a good estimate is obtained directly from experimental effective-range parameters.

Intermediate rho mesons in pi-nuclear scattering

The role of rho meson exchange between nucleons is examined by solving the Low equations which couple the pi-nuclear channels to the rho-nuclear channels. The result is in the form of a linear coupled-channel equation of the Lippmann-Schwinger type but including a propagator modification which strongly damps the effects of virtual rho mesons. In particular, the contribution of rho exchange to the Lorentz-Lorenz effect is found to be negligible.