The study of pion condensation precursor phenomena through nuclear continuum excitations

Theoretical aspects of the study of pion condensation precursor phenomena in nuclei by mechanisms in which nucleons are ejected into the continuum are considered. This requires a choice of probe that predominantly excites pionic modes (non-natural parity and isovector in character). Damping effects are treated and numerical results are presented for the energy-integrated pionic polarisation insertion or response function, which is the relevant construct for inclusive measurements of this type. (author)