Two step mechanism of η, η', ω, φ-meson production in pD → 3HeX reaction

The differential cross sections of pD → 3HeX reactions, where X=η, η', ω, φ, are calculated on the basis of a two-step mechanism involving subprocesses pp → dπ+ and π+n → Xp. It is shown that this model describes well the form of available experimental cross sections as a function of initial energy at the final c.m.s. momentum p*=0.4-1 GeV/c for the η and at p*=0-0.5 GeV/c for the ω-meson as well as the ratios R(η'/η) and R(φ/ω). The absolute value of the cross section is very sensitive to the spin structure of the elementary amplitudes and in the forward-backward approximation is underestimated by an overall factor of about 3 for η, η' and 5-7 for φ, ω. 20 refs., 4 figs