Coherent π0-Photoproduction on the Deuteron near Threshold and the Role of D-Wave Component of the Deuteron Wave Function

Abstract

Near-threshold coherent photoproduction of π⁰-meson on the deuteron is investigated. Numerical results for the unpolarized differential and total cross sections, the linear photon Σ-asymmetry, the vector T₁₁ and tensor T_2M (M = 0, 1, 2) deuteron spin asymmetries, and the spin asymmetry \(\tilde{T}_{20}\) of the total cross section are presented. The role of D-wave component of the deuteron wave function on these physical observables is studied. The calculations are based on the impulse approximation in which we use the realistic and high-precision Bonn NN potential (full model) for the deuteron wave function and the unitary isobar MAID-2007 model for the elementary γN → πN amplitude that describes well the threshold region. We have found that the D-wave component has a negligible effect on the unpolarized cross sections and the vector deuteron T₁₁-asymmetry at photon lab-energies close to threshold. On the contrary, we have obtained a significant role of the D-wave part of the deuteron wave function on the Σ, T_2M, and \(\tilde{T}_{20}\) spin asymmetries. The results for the unpolarized differential cross section are compared to the experimental data from TAPS and a satisfactory agreement within the uncertainties has been obtained at forward pion angles. At backward pion angles, our results underestimate the experimental data and a disagreement has been found.