Exclusive measurements of pp → dπ+π0 : Double-pionic fusion without ABC effect

Exclusive measurements of the reaction pp -> d pi(+)pi(0) have been carried out at T-p = 1.1 GeV at the CELSIUS storage ring using the WASA detector. The isovector pi(+)pi(0) channel exhibits no enhancement at low invariant pi pi masses, i.e. no ABC effect. Therefore this most basic isovector double-pionic fusion reaction qualifies as an ideal test case for the conventional t-channel Delta Delta excitation process. Indeed, the obtained differential distributions reveal the conventional t-channel Delta Delta mechanism as the appropriate reaction process, which also accounts for the observed energy dependence of the total cross section. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.