Relativistic effects and angular dependence in the reaction antiproton-proton -> pi^- pi^+

We present a new fit to the LEAR data on antiproton-proton -> pi^- pi^+ differential cross sections and analyzing powers motivated by relativistic considerations. Within a quark model describing this annihilation we argue, since the pions are highly energetic, that relativistic effects cannot be neglected. The intrinsic pion wave functions are Lorentz transformed to the center of mass frame. This change in quark geometry gives rise to additional angular dependence in the transition operators and results in a relative enhancement of higher J \ge 2 partial wave amplitudes. The fit to the data is improved significantly.