Which force causes decay in resonance states?

[Hypersquare]

Hey now!

I have just calculated the lifetime of a resonance state using its total width. I want to work out which force this decay is due to. How would one go about doing this?

Thanks

 

[kloptok]

To know the interaction responsible for a particular decay you have to know what the decay is, i.e. what particle(s) the particle you're looking decays into. One particle can decay in many different ways. However, since you use the word "resonance", this might be a hint that the decay is due to the strong interaction, since this is usually part of what one means by the word "resonance".

What is the specific particle and decay you're looking at?

 

[Hypersquare]

Thanks fo the response Kloptok!

No such information is given. I am just told that the total width of delta 1232 resonance i 118 Mev.

 

[mfb]

http://pdglive.lbl.gov/Rsummary.brl?nodein=B033&inscript=Y&sub=Yr&return=BXXX010

The dominant decay is (uud) -> (udd) + (u anti-d)
No quark flavour changes are involved, therefore it can occur via the strong interaction. The broad width of the resonance is another sign of this.

Another observed decay is delta1232 -> p gamma. As you can see from the photon, the electromagnetic interaction is involved.

 

[naima]

You can find ideas here.