Reaction and total cross sections for 400–500 MeV π- on nuclei

Attenuation measurements of reaction and total cross sections have been made for pi(-) beams at 410, 464, and 492 MeV on targets of CD2, Li-6, C, Al, S, Ca, Cu, Zr, Sn, and Pb. These results are assisted by and compared to predictions from a recent eikonal optical model. Calculations with this model, which does not include pion absorption, agree with recent elastic scattering data, but are significantly below our measured reaction and total cross sections.