Importance of d-wave contributions in the charge symmetry breaking reaction dd -> He-4 pi(0)

This letter reports a first quantitative analysis of the contribution of higher partial waves in the charge symmetry breaking reaction dd -> He-4 pi(0) using the WASA-at-COSY detector setup at an excess energy of Q = 60 MeV. The determined differential cross section can be parametrized as d sigma/d Omega = a + b cos(2) theta*, where theta* is the production angle of the pion in the center-of-mass coordinate system, and the results for the parameters are a = (1.55 +/- 0.46(stat)(-0.8)(+0.32)(syst)) pb/sr and b = (13.1 +/- 2.1(stat)(-2.7)(+1.0)(syst)) pb/sr. The data are compatible with vanishing p-waves and a sizable d-wave contribution. This finding should strongly constrain the contribution of the A isobar to the dd -> He-4 pi(0) reaction and is, therefore, crucial for a quantitative understanding of quark mass effects in nuclear production reactions. (C) 2018 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V