Large Angle K+-Deuteron Scattering as a Probe for Meson Exchange Effects

Meson exchange contributions have been suggested as one class of medium effects which might explain the continuing discrepancy between experimental results and theoretical predictions for K+-nucleus scattering. These exchange effects are negligible for near-forward K+-deuteron scattering because of the large size of the deuteron, but at large angles they might be expected to be significant compared to the weak double scattering. Detailed calculations, however, show that the quadrupole and magnetic contributions from single scattering are large enough to dominate both double scattering and exchange contributions even at large momentum transfers. The exchange contributions become significant only if the target deuteron is highly aligned so that the single scattering contributions are greatly reduced.