Treatment of the $\Delta$ current in electromagnetic two-nucleon knockout reactions

The contribution of the $\Delta$(1232) isobar to the electromagnetic current of the two-nucleon system and its role in ($\gamma$,NN) processes is investigated. The difference between the genuine $\Delta$-excitation current and that part of the current connected to the deexcitation of a preformed $\Delta$ in the target nucleus is stressed. The latter cannot lead to a resonant behaviour of matrix elements for energies in the $\Delta$ region. The reaction $^{16}O(\gamma,pp)^{14}C$, where the $\Delta$ contribution is dominant at intermediate energies, is considered. The large variations found in the cross sections for different treatments stress the need for a proper treatment of the $\Delta$ current for a clear understanding of the reaction mechanism of two-nucleon emission processes.