On the relativistic equation for scattering

Abstract

By defining an analytic continuation method, Wick has been able to elucidate the structure of the relativistic equation for bound states. In particular, the equation acquires an ‘elliptic’ rather than a ‘hyperbolic’ metric. Taking advantage of a gap in the rest-mass spectrum of one-nucleon states, a similar investigation is here carried through for the relativistic equation for two-nucleon scattering, in the energy region 2 k < E < 2 k + μ , k and μ being nucleon and meson masses.