Cross Sections for pi- and rho-induced Dissociation of J/psi and psi'

Abstract

We evaluate the cross sections for the dissociation of $J/\psi$ and $\psi'$ by $\pi$ and $\rho$ at low collision energies, using the quark-interchange model of Barnes and Swanson. The dissociation cross section for $J/\psi$ by $\pi$ is found to be relatively small with a maximum of about 1 mb and a kinetic energy threshold of 0.65 GeV. The pion-induced $\psi'$ dissociation cross section is found to be much larger, with a maximum of about 5 mb and a lower threshold. Dissociation cross sections for $J/\psi$ and $\psi'$ by $\rho$ mesons are also evaluated and are found to be large near threshold.