Abstract. We investigate the possibility of measuring the pion dispersion relation in nuclear matter through the anomalous coupling in the reaction ´ ⁰. If the pionic mode is softened in nuclear matter due to mixing with the delta-hole state, significant strength for this reaction is expected to move into the space-like region, which can be explored with this reaction. Competing background processes are evaluated, which are shown to be larger than the pionic channel of interest. We conclude that the use of such a measurement to explore the pion dispersion relation might be untenable, although difficult exclusive measurements might allow one to conquer the background.

Print publication: Issue 10 (October 1999)
Received 21 June 1999, in final form 3 August 1999