The 2p–2h electromagnetic response in the quasielastic peak and beyond Original Research Article

The contribution to the nuclear transverse response function RT arising from two particle–two hole (2p–2h) states excited through the action of electromagnetic meson exchange currents (MEC) is computed in a fully relativistic framework. The MEC considered are those carried by the pion and by Δ degrees of freedom, the latter being viewed as a virtual nucleonic resonance. The calculation is performed in the relativistic Fermi gas model in which Lorentz covariance can be maintained. All 2p–2h many-body diagrams containing two pionic lines that contribute to RT are taken into account and the relative impact of the various components of the MEC on RT is addressed. The non-relativistic limit of the MEC contributions is also discussed and compared with the relativistic results to explore the role played by relativity in obtaining the 2p–2h nuclear response.