γ-deuteron Compton scattering in effective field theory

Abstract The differential cross section for γ-deuteron Compton scattering is computed to next-to-leading order (NLO) in an effective field theory that describes nucleon-nucleon interactions below the pion production threshold. Contributions at NLO include the nucleon isoscalar electric polarizability from its 1 m π behavior in the chiral limit. The parameter-free prediction of the γ-deuteron differential cross section at NLO is in good agreement with data.