The self energy of $\Delta$-baryon is evaluated at finite temperature and density using the real time formalism of thermal field theory. The Dyson-Schwinger equation is used to get the exact thermal propagator followed by the spectral function of $\Delta$. The $\pi N$ scattering cross section obtained using explicit $\Delta$ exchange is normalized to the experimental data in vacuum and its medium modification is implemented by means of the exact thermal propagator. A significant suppression of the peak of the cross-section is observed at higher temperature and baryon density. Effects on the mean relaxation time of nucleons and the temperature dependence of the shear viscosity of a pion nucleon gas are demonstrated.
Categories: hep-ph nucl-th