Near-threshold $π^-$ photoproduction on the deuteron

The first experimental investigation of the near-threshold cross section for incoherent π-photoproduction on the deuteron γd→π-pp is presented. The experimental technique involved detection of the ≈131 MeV γ ray resulting from the radiative capture of photoproduced π-in the target. The total cross section was 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 γn→π-p and pion-nucleon and nucleon-nucleon final-state interactions.