Dilepton production from resonance scattering in hot hadronic matter

Abstract

Dilepton production from resonance scattering in hot hadronic matter is studied. Including the widths of these resonances, which enhance the phase space for dilepton production, we find that the production rate is significantly increased if a resonance appears in the extended phase space. For the reaction pi+rho-->l(+)+l(-) , the finite rho meson width extends the invariant mass below the omega-meson mass, so a peak at the omega-meson mass is seen in the dilepton spectrum. Similarly, a rho-meson peak appears in the reaction rho+rho-->l(+)+l(-). On the other hand, the effect of particle widths in the reaction pi+a(1)-->l(+)+l(-) is small since the extended phase space does not include any resonance.