Total cross section of the reaction γd → π–pp in the threshold energy region

In the framework of the diagrammatic approach, the total cross section of near-threshold π – photoproduction on the deuteron is calculated. Contributions of the diagrams corresponding to the plane wave impulse approximation as well as to NN - and π N -interactions in the final state have been taken into account. We have compared the theoretical predictions with the results of the recent measurements performed at the MAX IV laboratory of the Lund University. There is good agreement with the data at photon energies from 147 to 155 MeV. However, at 158 and 160 MeV, the theoretical predictions significantly overestimate the measured cross sections.