We present results from the initial run of Fermilab experiment E706. The data include incident π− and p beams at 500 GeV/c on Be and Cu targets, and span the kinematic ranges of transverse momentum and rapidity of 3.5≤pT≤10 GeV/c and −0.7≤yc.m.≤0.7, respectively. We have measured cross sections for π0 and direct-photon production, as well as the ηπ0 production ratio. From the data on Be and Cu, we have extracted the nuclear dependence of π0 production, parametrized as Aα. The cross sections are compared with next-to-leading-log QCD predictions for different choices of the QCD momentum scales and several sets of parton distribution functions.
The production of the Jψ resonance in 125-GeV/c p¯ and φ− interactions with Be, Cu, and W targets has been measured. The cross section per nucleon for Jψ production is suppressed in W interactions relative to the lighter targets, especially at large values of Feynman x, which is opposite to the expectation from the various explanations of the European Muon Collaboration effect. Models incorporating modifications of the gluon structure functions in heavy targets show qualitative agreement with the data.
We present a measurement and comparison of the χc1 and χc2 production cross sections determined from interactions of 300-GeV/c π± and p with a Li target. We find χc1χc2 production ratios of 0.52−0.27+0.57 and 0.08−0.15+0.25 from reactions induced by π± and p, respectively.
The yields of the 1S and the sum of the 2S and 3S Υ resonances have been measured for 800-GeV protons incident on targets of H2, C, Ca, Fe, and W. A significant nuclear dependence is seen in the yield per nucleon which, within errors, is the same for the Υ(1S) and Υ(2S+3D) states. A large decrease in the relative yield from heavy nuclei is found for the range xF<0. Significant nuclear dependence is also observed in the pt distribution. Differential cross sections for the Υ(1S) for H2 are presented over the ranges 0.24≤pt≤3.4 GeV/c and -0.15≤xF≤0.5.
The yield of J/ψ and ψ’ vector-meson states has been measured for 800-GeV protons incident on deuterium, carbon, calcium, iron, and tungsten targets. A depletion of the yield per nucleon from heavy nuclei is observed for both J/ψ and ψ’ production. This depletion exhibits a strong dependence on xF and pt. Within experimental errors the depletion is the same for the J/ψ and the ψ’.
The nuclear dependence for 800 GeV/c proton production of neutron D mesons has been measured near xF=0 in Experiment 789 at Fermilab. D mesons from beryllium and gold targets were detected with a pair spectrometer and a silicon vertex detector via their decay D→Kπ. No nuclear dependence is found, with a measured α=1.02±0.03±0.02. The measured differential cross section, dσ/dxF, for neutral-D-meson production at 〈xF〉=0.031 is 58±3±7 μb/nucleon. The integrated cross section obtained by extrapolation of the measured cross section to all xF is 17.7±0.9±3.4 μb/nucleon and is consistent with previous measurements.
We have measured cross sections for forward neutron production from a variety of targets using proton beams from the Fermilab Main Injector. Measurements were performed for proton beam momenta of 58 GeV/c, 84 GeV/c, and 120 GeV/c. The cross section dependence on the atomic weight (A) of the targets was found to vary as $A^(alpha)$ where $\alpha$ is $0.46\pm0.06$ for a beam momentum of 58 GeV/c and 0.54$\pm$0.05 for 120 GeV/c. The cross sections show reasonable agreement with FLUKA and DPMJET Monte Carlos. Comparisons have also been made with the LAQGSM Monte Carlo.
Fermilab experiment 711 has investigated proton-nucleus collisions in which two high-transverse-momentum hadrons are produced forming high-mass ++, +-, and -- charged states, using an 800-GeV/c proton beam on targets of beryllium, aluminum, iron, and tungsten. Our data cover the range in dihadron mass from 6 to 15 GeV/c2. We show here that the dependence of the cross section on atomic weight A can be parametrized as Aα where α=1.043±0.011(stat)±0.025 (syst), and is independent of the charge state of the dihadron system.
Dimuon production is studied in 217-GeV/c π−-hydrogen and π−-beryllium collisions with a lead-glass array to detect photons associated with the ψ. The ψ−γ mass spectrum shows a 2.6-standard-deviation excess of events above background at ∼3.5 GeV. This excess, if attributed to the decay χ(∼3.5)→ψγ, implies that 0.70±0.28 of the ψ's are produced via radiative decay of one of the χ states.
Nuclear transparencies measured in exclusive incoherent ρ0 meson production from hydrogen, deuterium, carbon, calcium, and lead in muon-nucleus scattering are reported. The data were obtained with the E665 spectrometer using the Fermilab Tevatron muon beam with a mean beam energy of 470 GeV. Increases in the nuclear transparencies are observed as the virtuality of the photon increases, in qualitative agreement with the expectations of color transparency.