Analysis of the charge-exchange reaction $pp \rightarrow (p\pi^{+}) (p\pi^{-}$ and of \delta^{++}\delta^{0}$ production at the CERN ISR

The results of a systematic analysis of charge-exchange double dissociation in proton-proton collisions at the CERN Intersecting Storage Rings are presented. The data cover the entire ISR energy range between square root s=23 GeV and square root s=63 GeV at five standard energies. Double resonance production is observed in the Delta /sup ++/ Delta /sup 0/ and Delta /sup ++/N/sup 0/(1688) final states. The mass spectra of the p pi /sup -/ system show more pronounced resonant signals in the backward Jackson hemisphere. A detailed analysis ofdifferential cross sections shows a forward peak typical of absorbed pion exchanges decreasing as s/sup -1.81+or-0.06/, followed by a much gentler exponential behaviour associated with a trajectory typical of rho -A/sub 2/ exchange. The high-energy transition to this regime is also indicated by a dramatic change in the s-dependence of total cross sections as compared with low-energy data. (20 refs).