Dependence of the ¹²C(vec{γ},pd) reaction on photon linear polarisation

The sensitivity of the $^{12}$C$(\vec{\gamma},pd)$ reaction to photon linear polarisation has been determined at MAMI, giving the first measurement of the reaction for a nucleus heavier than $^{3}$He. Photon asymmetries and cross sections were measured for $E_{\gamma}$=170 to 350 MeV. For $E_{\gamma}$ below the $\Delta$ resonance, reactions leaving the residual $^{9}$Be near its ground state show a positive asymmetry of up to 0.3, similar to that observed for $^{3}$He suggesting a similar reaction mechanism for the two nuclei.