Threshold pp → ppπ0 up to one-loop accuracy

The pp --> pp pi (0) cross section near threshold is computed up to one-loop order including the initial and final state interactions using the hybrid heavy baryon chiral perturbation theory and the counting rule a la Weinberg. With the counter terms whose coefficients are fixed by the resonance-saturation assumption, we find that the one-loop contributions are as important as the tree-order contribution and bring the present theoretical estimation of the total cross section close to the experimental data. The short-ranged contributions are controlled by means of a cutoff, and a mild cutoff dependence is observed when all diagrams of the given chiral order are summed. To the order treated, however, the expansion is found to converge rather slowly, calling for further studies of the process. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.