THRESHOLD PION-PHOTOPRODUCTION IN THE SKYRME MODEL

Threshold photoproduction of pions on the nucleon is studied in the Skyrme model. Both the rotational and translational degrees of freedom of the Skyrmion are included in the calculations. It is found that in the case of neutral pion production there is a sizeable cancellation between the nucleon pole term and the anomalous contact term. This cancellation is a unique feature of the model and provides an important test of the validity of the model. A definitive conclusion must await a resolution of the existing controversies about the experimental data.