Meson-exchange Hamiltonian for NN scattering and isobar-nucleus dynamics

We have constructed a meson-exchange Hamiltonian for π, N, Δ and N* for NN scattering up to 2 GeV. The model gives good descriptions of the Arndt phase-shifts up to 1 GeV in both the T = 0 and T = 1 channels. The calculated total cross sections sigma/sup tot/, Δsigma/sub L//sup tot/ and Δsigma/sub T//sup tot/ agree to a large extent with the data in both the magnitudes and the signs. The present calculation gives a sound starting point for future refinements. Among them, a large-scale three-body calculation could be needed to investigate the energy dependence of the effect due to NN interactions in the πNN channel. Until this effect is carefully studied, it is premature to extract information on dibaryon resonances, if they exist, from the data. Our model also gives definite predictions of np scattering. Precise np polarization measurements at higher energy > 0.6 GeV are needed to have a complete test of our model. Finally, the present model Hamiltonian can be used to carry our many-body calculations