Near-threshold $\ddot{I}{€}^{-}$ photoproduction on the deuteron

Abstract

The first experimental investigation of the near-threshold cross section for incoherent $\ddot{I}{€}^{-}$ photoproduction on the deuteron ${\hat{I}}^3$ d -> $\ddot{I}{€}^{-}$ pp is presented. The experimental technique involved detection of the ~131 MeV gamma ray resulting from the radiative capture of photoproduced $\ddot{I}{€}^{-}$ in the target. The total cross section has been measured using an unpolarized tagged-photon beam, a liquid-deuterium target, and three very large NaI(Tl) spectrometers. The data are compared to theoretical models that give insight into the elementary reaction ${\hat{I}}^3$ n -> $\ddot{I}{€}^{-}$ p and pion-nucleon and nucleon-nucleon final-state interactions.

8 pages, 6 figures, to be submitted to Physical Review C