Elastic scattering and ω meson production near the threshold of π−p→ω+n

Abstract Measurements are reported of the differential cross section for the reaction π − +p→ ω +n from threshold to a final-state c.m. momentum P ∗ of 200 MeV /c . The previously reported fall in total cross section σ/P ∗ below about 100 MeV/ c is again seen. The differential cross section remains close to isotropic over the entire range. A paralle experiment on the variation in the elastic differential cross section across the threshold shows evidence of this threshold. The elastic data cover a range of incident moments from 1010 to 1180 MeV/ c in steps of 5 MeV/ c .