The Absorption of Negativeπ-Mesons by Protons

Abstract

The lifetime for absorption of a ${\pi }^{-}$-meson by a proton leading to the emission of a high energy photon has been calculated. Calculations have been performed for both scalar and pseudoscalar ${\pi }^{-}$-mesons and for absorption "on the fly" and from bound states. The lifetimes from bound states are extremely short compared to the time for decay into ${\mu }^{-}$-mesons. The competition between ${\pi }^0$-emission and $\gamma$-emission is considered. Inverse processes are also discussed.