{ital {Delta}} Resonance Production in {sup 58}Ni+Cu Collisions at E =1.97A GeV

Invariant mass analyses of (p,{pi}{sup {plus_minus}}) pairs in {sup 58}Ni+Cu collisions at 1.97A GeV have been performed and show correlations resulting from the decays of the {Delta} resonance, the {Lambda} baryon, and possibly the N{sup {asterisk}}(1440) resonance. A reduction in the {Delta} mass is observed and the mass reduction increases with collision centrality. Events generated by the relativistic cascade model (ARC) also reveal a mass reduction. The mass reduction is related to the size of the reaction volume and the details of {Delta} production mechanisms in heavy ion collisions. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}