Tensor analyzing power T20 for cumulative pion production from deuterons in the GeV energy region

Abstract The tensor analyzing power T 20 for the reaction d ↑ + 12 C → π ± (0°) + X has been measured with a polarized deuteron beam from 6.2 to 9.0 GeV/ c at a pion momentum3.0 GeV/ c . This experiment is focused on “cumulatively produced pions”, which are produced beyond the kinematically allowed limit for free nucleon-nucleon collisions. The measured values of T 20 turn out to be close to zero. They are in disagreement with the results of our impulse approximation calculation which is based on a single NN → πNN interaction and takes into account the internal motion of nucleons in the deuteron. Possible explanations of the result are discussed.