Backward pion-deuteron scattering at high momentum

We have calculated the differential cross section of pi d elastic scattering at 180 degrees for incident pion laboratory momenta between 0.8 and 3.2 GeV/c. We have applied a relativistic model which includes single- and double-scattering terms. The results show a strong dependence on the chosen deuteron model and on the cutoff parameter of the pi N off-shell amplitude. The rapid falloff with energy of the experimental data can be reproduced by our model calculation. Details of the cross section are described better by the inclusion of the double-scattering term. [S0556-2813(99)04408-8].