πo photoproduction on quasi-free neutrons in the reaction γd → πo np in the Δ region

The possibility of obtaining information about the reaction γn → π^on in the Δ resonance region from the reaction γd → π^onp is analyzed. To this aim, the differential cross sections d³σ/dE_ndΩ_πdΩ_n both for unpolarized particles and in case of polarized photons and deuterons as well as the asymmetry Σ for linearly-polarized photons are calculated at photon energies from 250 to 400 MeV in the diagrammatic approach. The contributions from the pole diagrams as well as one-loop diagrams both with n-p and π-N-rescattering are taken into account. The main contribution to the differential cross sections of π^o photoproduction on the neutron in the quasi-free kinematics arises from the neutron pole diagram. The correction due to n-p rescattering decreases with increasing pion angle and becomes to be less than 8% at Θ_π ≥ 90°. The contributions of the proton pole diagram and the one of π -N rescattering were found to be negligible. Background effects are more pronounced in the case of the asymmetry Σ. However, they are also strongly suppressed in the neutron quasi-free kinematics at photon energies above 300 MeV.