Two-body pion production d(p, π+)t AT 470 and 590 MeV

Abstract The differential cross section for the reaction d(p, π + )t has been measured for c.m. angles between 37° and 160°, at incident proton energies of 470 and 590 MeV. The results are in qualitative agreement with the predictions of a two-nucleon model of the reaction when the D-state contribution is included, except for the existence of a backward peak at 470 MeV. Other models of the reaction are discussed; none of them gives a rationale for the backward peak at 470 MeV. A similar peak is present in older data at 325 MeV.