Tensor Polarization In Pi-D Scattering And Pion Absorption

Angular distributions of the deuteron tensor polarization, ${t}_{20}$, in $\ensuremath{\pi}\ensuremath{-}d$ elastic scattering at pion energies of 180, 220, and 256 MeV and an excitation function at ${{\ensuremath{\theta}}_{\mathrm{c}.\mathrm{m}.}}^{\ensuremath{\pi}}\ensuremath{\approx}144\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ have been measured. The results suggest that all published calculations fail to include true pion absorption properly in the treatment of the $\ensuremath{\pi}\mathrm{NN}$ system. No rapid angular or energy dependence was found near pion energies of either 134 or 256 MeV, where other experiments have suggested the existence of dibaryons.