Charge independence studied in NN to Pi reactions

We investigate to what extent charge independence breaking (CIB) in isospin related reactions of the type NN -> d pi can or could be seen in existing data. In doing this we perform fits to global and threshold cross sections including most recent data. Applying these we point out the probable impossibility to make model independent predictions even based solely on the different threshold energies and the well known pp -> d pi(+). A possible discrepancy is seen between the np -> d pi(0) and pp -> d pi(+) threshold data, which may require invoking other explicitly isospin symmetry breaking interactions than the Coulomb force and different threshold energies. (c) 2006 Published by Elsevier B.V