DIFFERENTIAL CROSS-SECTION OF THE PN-]PP(S-1(0))PI(-) REACTION EXTRACTED FROM PD-]PPP-PI(-)

The double differential cross section for pn --> PF(S-1(0))pi(-) at th ree beam energies has been extracted from the quasifree process pd --> ppp pi(-) A comparison is carried out with single differential cross section measurements for He-3(pi(-),pn)n, where the pion is thought to be absorbed onto a pp(S-1(0)) ''diproton'' state. A significant diffe rence is observed in the shape of the angular distribution between the production and absorption data. This difference is ascribed to the ef fects of the He-3 nuclear environment characterizing the absorption pr ocess; however, an adequate theoretical explanation is not available.