Backward $pi$$sup -$d elastic scattering from 496 to 1050 MeV/c

Measurements of the differential cross sections for ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}d$ elastic scattering in the backward angular region are presented. These measurements were made at thirteen incident-pion momenta ranging from 496 to 1050 MeV/c, over the center-of-mass angular range 148\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} to 177\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}. The experiment was performed at the LBL Bevatron. Experimental apparatus consisted of a liquid deuterium target and a double-arm spectrometer which included scintillation-counter hodoscopes. Center-of-mass differential cross sections were found to be generally smooth over the angular range covered and can be fitted with low-order polynomials. The extrapolated differential cross sections at 180\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} scattering angle were found to decrease rapidly with increasing momentum, with a prominent peak near 700 MeV/c and a shoulder near 900 MeV/c. These data are discussed in terms of existing models employing "${d}^{*}$" structures, and are compared with other similar measurements.