The photoproduction of neutral pions is studied in the distorted wave impulse approximation. The cross sections are calculated for pion production from ${}_{}{}^4{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{He}$, ${}_{}{}^{12}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{C}$, ${}_{}{}^{16}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{O}$, and ${}_{}{}^{40}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Ca}$ and are found to be in good agreement with the available data. The present results compare well with the theoretical calculations carried out in the framework of the isobar-doorway model.

NUCLEAR REACTIONS ${\pi }^0$ photoproduction from ${}_{}{}^4{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{He}$, ${}_{}{}^{12}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{C}$, ${}_{}{}^{16}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{O}$, ${}_{}{}^{40}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Ca}$; distorted wave impulse approximation.

• Received 8 March 1982

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.27.1169