<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mml:mrow><mml:msup><mml:mrow><mml:mi mathvariant="normal">π</mml:mi></mml:mrow><mml:mrow><mml:mi mathvariant="normal">−</mml:mi></mml:mrow></mml:msup></mml:mrow></mml:math><mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mml:mrow><mml:msup><mml:mrow><mml:mi mathvariant="normal">−</mml:mi></mml:mrow><mml:mrow><mml:mn>12</mml:mn></mml:mrow></mml:msup></mml:mrow></mml:math>C elastic scattering above the Δ resonance

Systematic measurements of ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\pi}}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ elastic scattering on $^{12}\mathrm{C}$ above the \ensuremath{\Delta}-resonance region are reported. The differential cross sections were measured at 610, 710, 790, and 895 MeV/c over an angular range from 5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} to 50\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}. The obtained data were compared with the first-order optical potential model. In the forward region, agreement with the calculation increases with the incident momentum. In the backward region, however, the calculation underestimates the data. The total cross section was extracted, and its energy dependence shows that the effect of Fermi averaging is important.