Measurements of complete angular distributions of elastic K + p scattering at closely spaced incident momenta from 1368 to 2259 MeV/ c are presented and discussed. A PDP-8 computer controlled system of scintillation counters and core-readout wire spark chambers was used for the detection of elastic events. Diffractive behaviour is already present at the lowest measured momentum and becomes more prominent as the incident momentum increases. An expansion of the angular distributions in terms of Legendre polynomials shows no marked structure of the expansion coefficients as functions of the incident momentum. Our measurements can be adequately described by a number of existing phase shift solutions within 5% of their published values. Also Regge pole extrapolations represent our data satisfactorily.

The K − p reactions with final states Λπ 0 , Σ 0 π 0 , Λπ 0 π 0 , Λη and Σ 0 η have been studied at 14 momenta between 685 and 934 MeV/ c using optical spark chambers. The charged decay products of the Λ are detected by low mass spark chambers while γ-rays from π 0 and Σ 0 decays are detected in high mass chambers. Approximately 250 000 photographs were analysed from which partial and differential cross sections were determined. These results are presented with an energy dependent, single channel partial-wave analysis.

A partial-wave analysis of the (K ππ ) 0 system produced in the charge exchange reaction K − p →( K 0 π + π − ) n has been made in the mass range 1.04 ⩽ M (K ππ ) < 1.56 GeV c data at 8, 10 and 16 GeV/ c . It was found that in about 2 3 of the cases, the (K ππ ) 0 system is produced in states of unnatural spin-parity, namely J P = 0 − and 1 + ; the rest is in the natural spin-parity state J P = 2 + state is consistent with being all K ∗ (1420). The unnatural spin-parity states are produced mostly (∼ 80% of the events) by natural parity exchange. The facts that unnatural spin-parity states are produced in this non-diffractive channel, with J P = 1 + dominant, and that the exchange responsible for their production is mostly of natural parity, are similar to what was found for the charged (K ππ ) − system in the diffractive reaction K − p→(K ππ ) − p. However, the absolute value and the energy dependence of the cross sections are very different in the two cases.

Differential cross sections for elastic scattering of negative kaons on protons are presented for 13 incident laboratory momenta between 1094 MeV/c and 1377 MeV/c. The data show the characteristic forward diffraction-like peak and backward dip and are adequately described in shape by certain published partial-wave analyses of the N system.

A partial-wave analysis has been performed on the (K − π − π + ) system produced in the reaction K − p → K − π − π + p at 10 and 16 GeV/ c . In the Q mass region it is found that the two dominant states, K ∗ π and Kπ, both in 1 + S wave, are produced with different polarisations, helicity being approximately conserved in the t -channel for K ∗ π and in the s -channel for Kπ. This is in contradiction with the assumption that the amplitude can be factorised into “production” and “decay” parts, and hence that the two amplitudes are fully coherent. The phase variation of the two states do not indicate simple resonance behaviour. It is concluded that the Q-mass enhancement is composite.

Differential cross sections for the elastic scattering of negative kaons on protons are presented for 19 momenta between 1.732 GeV/ c and 2.466 GeV/ c . The general features of the cross sections are discussed.

The reaction of K − p → Σ + (1660) π − was studied in a 65 event/μb sample of Σππ(π), Λππ(π) and p K 0 π − final states. The main production features observed are that the Σ (1660) decaying into Σππ is mostly Λ (1405) π and is produced only at small t ; the Σ (1660) decaying into Σπ shows both forward and backward production. This confirms earlier results suggesting the existence of two Σ (1660) resonances. An Adair analysis and a (model-dependent) moments analysis find a J = 3 2 preference for the Σ + (1660)→ Λ (1405) π + → Σ + π − π + ; a Dalitz-Miller analysis of the decay Σ + (1660) → Λ (1405) π + → Σ − π + π + determines J P to be 3 2 − . For the Σ + (1660) → Σ 0 π + a moments analysis suggests J = 3 2 . Branching ratios are determined, which (with the exceptation of the Λ (1405) π mode) are in reasonable agreement with results from formation experiments for the J P = 3 2 − Σ(1660) resonance. We compare our branching ratios with SU(3) and SU(6) predictions; the latter comparison suggests that, unless there is strong configuration mixing, Σ (1660) → Λ (1405) π , if 3 2 − , cannot be a member of the (70, 1 − ) multiplet.

Significant production of (2030) is observed in the channel K − p → (Σ K − K + from a high statistics bubble chamber exposure at 4.2 GeV/ c . The mass and width are determined to be 2024 ± 2 MeV and 16 ± 5 MeV respectively. Apart from Σ K , the only other decay channel is found to be Λ K .

A partial-wave analysis of the diffractively produced p π + π − system has been performed for the reaction K − p→K − (p π + π − ) at 10, 14.3 and 16 GeV/ c using the isobar model. For p π + π − masses below 1.6 GeV, the system can be described by the states with spin-parity 1 2 + and 3 2 − . The dominant state is the 3 2 − S-wave Δπ . No evidence for resonance production can be found here. For higher masses, the states 5 2 + and 5 2 − are present in addition. The 5 2 − constitutes a violation of the Gribov-Morrison rule and its mass shape is consistent with being the D 15 N ∗ (1670) resonance. The peak in the p π + π − mass spectrum at 1.7 GeV cannot be explained by one single spin-parity state. A comparison of the diffractive reaction pomeron + p → p ππ with the formation experiment π p → N ππ is made.

We report on the results of a partial-wave analysis of the 3π system produced by baryon exchange in the reaction K − p→ Σ − π + π + π − at 4.2 GeV/ c . We confirm the existence of an enhancement in the 1 + S( ϱπ ) wave as previously established from a Dalitz plot analysis of the same data. The phase variation of this wave is found to be consistent with that expected for a resonance and thus the enhancement is identified with A 1 production. No clear signal for this state is found in either the reaction K − p→ Σ + π + π + π − π − or K − p→ Λπ + π − π 0 . We also find production via baryon exchange of the A 2 in all three reactions and the ω and ω ∗ (1975) in the third reaction.