Importance of d-wave contributions in the charge symmetry breaking reaction dd→4Heπ0

This letter reports a first quantitative analysis of the contribution of higher partial waves in the charge symmetry breaking reaction dd→4Heπ0 using the WASA-at-COSY detector setup at an excess energy of Q=60MeV. The determined differential cross section can be parametrized as dσ/dΩ=a+bcos2⁡θ⁎, where θ⁎ 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)+0.32−0.8(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 Δ isobar to the dd→4Heπ0 reaction and is, therefore, crucial for a quantitative understanding of quark mass effects in nuclear production reactions.