Diffractive dissociation and N∗ production in π−n → π−π−p at 15 GeV/c☆

Abstract Diffractive dissociation of neutrons and N ∗ production are studied in the reaction π − n → π − π − p at 15 GeV/ c . The reaction is dominated by a broad, low-mass diffractive enhancement in the pπ − mass. Evidence is presented for the production of at least one N ∗ resonance in the mass region 1.4–1.8 GeV. Comparison with ISR data suggest that this N ∗ resonance is produced by pomeron exchange. The N ∗ production occurs predominantly at t ′ > 0.1 GeV 2 which suggests a different coupling from the usual diffractive reactions. The non-resonant diffractive background is compared with a double-Regge model and the statistical dissociation model.