Disintegration of Helium by Π^- Mesons

Abstract

MANY estimates have been made of cross-sections for meson capture; but apparently the resulting nuclear disintegrations have seldom been treated. Observations on the energies of the emitted particles might give some information on the interaction between mesons and nucleons and would show whether a neutral meson is produced or the whole meson mass is absorbed. Experimental results could be interpreted without ambiguity only in the case of very light elements. Helium is the lightest element to emit a charged particle and might be used in experiments with artificially produced mesons.