Backward π−p elastic scattering at 3 and 4

We have measured dσ du for π − p elastic scattering at 3 and 4 GeV c in the ranges −0.119⩽ u ⩽0.113 and −0.233⩽ u ⩽0.088, respectively. A fit of the form d σ /d u = A exp ( Bu + Cu 2 ) gives B = 4.34±0.42 and C = 7.0±3.5 at 4 GeV c with χ 2 = 5.7 for 9 degrees of freedom; the simpler form d σ /d u = A exp( Bu ) gives B = 3.7 ± 0.3 with χ 2 = 9.6. At 3 GeV c we confirm with high statistics the structures already observed.