The importance of the nucleon-nucleon correlations for the eta alpha S-wave scattering length, and the pi-eta mixing angle in the low-energy eta alpha scattering length model

Abstract

Using the new set of dd --> eta alpha near threshold experimental data, the estimate of the importance of the nucleon-nucleon correlations for the eta alpha S-wave scattering length in the multiple scattering theory is obtained using the low-energy scattering length model. The contribution turns out to be much bigger then previously believed. The pi-eta mixing angle is extracted using the experimental data on the dd --> eta alpha and dd --> pi alpha processes. The model is dominated by the subthreshold extrapolation recipe for the eta alpha scattering amplitudes. When the recipe is chosen the model is completely insensitive to the eta alpha parameters for the subthreshold value of the eta cm momentum of p_{eta}^2 = -(0.46)^2 fm^{-2}. Provided that the subthreshold extrapolation recipe is correct, a good estimate of the pi-eta mixing angle is obtained, if the experimental cross sections for the dd --> pi alpha reaction at the corresponding deuteron input energy are taken from the literature.