The total cross section for pion production in the reaction pd→pd${\mathrm{\pi }}^0$ has been measured for bombarding energies from ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{p}}$=208.4 MeV to 294.6 MeV. This corresponds to maximum pion momenta η=${\mathit{p}}_{\mathrm{\pi },\mathrm{c}.\mathrm{m}.\mathrm{}}$/${\mathit{m}}_{\mathrm{\pi }}$c between 0.099 and 0.96. The experiment was performed using an electron-cooled proton beam and an internal deuterium gas jet target. The resulting ${\mathrm{\sigma }}_{\mathrm{tot}}$ changes by almost four orders of magnitude over the covered energy range. The results are compared to a model which assumes quasi-free production via the pn→d${\mathrm{\pi }}^0$ elementary process.

• Received 16 February 1993

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.70.2864