Near threshold production of neutral pions by complex particles

Abstract Cross sections for the inclusive neutral pion production cross section have been measured for near threshold energy 3 He particles on complex nuclei. The results of these measurements are of order 10 −36 cm 2 /sr · MeV. The neutral pion cross section for 710 MeV 4 He on 12 C has been found to be comparable to the production cross section for nucleons, 10 −30 cm 2 /sr · MeV. Comparisons are made with a naive model relating complex particle production to nucleon production of pions.