Scattering of 80-Mevπ−Mesons by Complex Nuclei

Abstract

The elastic scattering of 80-Mev ${\pi }^{-}$ mesons by lithium, carbon, aluminum, and copper has been investigated using a ${\pi }^{-}$ detector which gives improved discrimination against low-energy-loss inelastic events. A "transmission" scatterer orientation was necessary to maintain energy resolution, so only less than 120° scattering was studied. The new differential scattering cross sections for lithium, aluminum, and copper agree with the previously reported results at small angles but are 2 to 10 times smaller at larger angles. There are indications of diffraction structure in aluminum and copper which were not previously observed due to the poorer energy resolution of the earlier measurements.