W-Meson Production inπ−+p→W−+pInteractions

Abstract

The cross section for production of $W$ bosons in the reaction ${\pi }^{-}+p\to W^{-}+p$ is calculated on the basis of single-particle exchange for $W$ masses in the region 2-5 BeV. Corrections for absorption in the initial channel are included. Pion exchange is found to dominate rho exchange and gives (4-12) ${\left|F_{\pi }\right({m_W}^2\left)\right|}^2\times {10}^{-34\mathrm{}}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^2$ as an estimate of the total production cross section. Here $F_{\pi }\left({m_W}^2\right)$ is the pion electromagnetic form factor evaluated at the $W$-meson mass.