Backward single-pion production in the pd→ 3He π0 reaction with WASA-at-COSY

Abstract

New data on the production of single neutral pions in the pd→ 3He π0 reaction are presented. For fifteen proton beam momenta between pp= 1. 60 GeV/c and pp= 1. 74 GeV/c, differential cross sections are determined over a large fraction of the backward hemisphere. Since the only previous systematic measurements of single-pion production at these energies were made in collinear kinematics, the present work constitutes a significant extension of the current knowledge on this reaction. Even this far above the production threshold, significant changes are found in the behaviour of the angular distributions over small intervals in beam momentum. © 2018, SIF, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.