Photodisintegration of the deuteron

Abstract

This paper examines those basic theoretical aspects that, in the author's opinion, are relevant for future experimental studies of deuteron photodisintegration, or its time-reversed reaction, at low, intermediate, and high energies. At low photon energies, i.e., [Formula: see text], theoretical aspects stressed by the various authors are contrasted and discussed. At intermediate energies, i.e., [Formula: see text], the major emphasis has to do with the importance of studying the role played by isobars [Δ(1232)], especially in sorting out effects related to substantial energy transfer to the baryonic system. At high energies, i.e., [Formula: see text], the prospect of unraveling manifestations of the quark substructure of hadrons is briefly discussed. For the entire energy region surveyed in this paper, [Formula: see text], it appears essential to measure spin observables so as to disentangle manifestations of the various important aspects relevant for the reaction.