Charge-Exchange Scattering of 34-Mevπ-Mesons in Hydrogen and Deuterium

Abstract

We have measured the total cross section for the charge-exchange scattering of $\pi$-mesons in hydrogen and deuterium at 34 Mev. Both single photons and two-photon coincidences were detected. The results are relatively independent of the assumed angular distribution of the $\pi$-mesons. A value of 5.0±1.5 millibarns was obtained for the total charge-exchange cross section of ${\pi }^{-}$-mesons in hydrogen. The expected null result was obtained for ${\pi }^{+}$-mesons in hydrogen. In deuterium, values of about one-third the hydrogen cross section were obtained for both signs of meson. The photons observed from carbon and oxygen do not appear to be mainly from ${\pi }^0$-decay, and the cross section for ${\pi }^0$ production in C and O is less than 5 mb for both signs of meson.