Singlet-to-triplet ratio in the deuteron breakup reaction $pd\to pnp$ at 585 MeV

Abstract

Available experimental data on the exclusive $pd\to pnp$ reaction at 585 MeV show a narrow peak in the proton-neutron final-state interaction region. It was supposed previously, on the basis of a phenomenological analysis of the shape of this peak, that the final spin-singlet $pn$ state provided about one third of the observed cross section. By comparing the absolute value of the measured cross section with that of $pd$ elastic scattering using the F\"aldt-Wilkin extrapolation theorem, it is shown here that the $pd\to pnp$ data can be explained mainly by the spin-triplet final state with a singlet admixture of a few percent. The smallness of the singlet contribution is compatible with existing $pN\to pN\pi$ data and the one-pion exchange mechanism of the $pd\to pnp$ reaction.