Report on the investigation of interactions in π−p collisions at a pion momentum of 1.59 GeV/c, by means of the 50 cm Saclay liquid hydrogen bubble chamber, operating in a magnetic field of 17.5 kG. The results obtained concern essentially the elastic scattering and the inelastic scattering accompanied by the production of either a single pion in π−p→ pπ−π0 and nπ−π+ interactions, or by more than one pion in four-prong events. The observed angular distribution for the elastic scattering in the diffraction region, can be approximated by an exponential law. From the extrapolated value, thus obtained for the forward scattering, one gets σel= (9.65±0.30) mb. Effective mass spectra of π−π0 and π−π+ dipions are given in case of one-pion production. Each of them exhibits the corresponding ρ− or ρ0 resonances in the region of ∼ 29μ2 (μ = mass of the charged pion). The ρ peaks are particularly conspicuous for low momentum transfer (Δ2) events. The ρ0 distribution presents a secondary peak at ∼31μ2 due probably to the ω0 → π−π+ process. The branching ratio (ω0→ π+π−)/(ω0→ π+π− 0) is estimated to be ∼ 7%. The results are fairly well interpreted in the frame of the peripheral interaction according to the one-pion exchange (OPE) model, Up to values of Δ2/μ2∼10. In particular, the ratio ρ−/ρ0 is of the order of 0.5, as predicted by this model. Furthermore, the distribution of the Treiman-Yang angle is compatible with an isotropic one inside the ρ. peak. The distribution of\(\sigma _{\pi ^ + \pi ^ - } \), as calculated by the use of the Chew-Low formula assumed to be valid in the physical region of Δ2, gives a maximum which is appreciably lower than the value of\(12\pi \tilde \lambda ^2 = 120 mb\) expected for a resonant elastic ππ scattering in a J=1 state at the peak of the ρ. However, a correcting factor to the Chew-Low formula, introduced by Selleri, gives a fairly good agreement with the expected value. Another distribution, namely the Δ2 distribution, at least for Δ2 < 10 μ2, agrees quite well with the peripheral character of the interaction involving the ρ resonance. π− angular distributions in the rest frame of the ρ exhibit a different behaviour for the ρ− and for the ρ0. Whereas the first one is symmetrical, as was already reported in a previous paper, the latter shows a clear forward π− asymmetry. The main features of the four-prong results are: 1) the occurrence of the 3/2 3/2 (ρπ+) isobar in π−p → pπ+π−π− events and 2) the possible production of the ω0→ π+π−π0 resonance in π−p→ pπ−π+π−π0 events. No ρ’s were observed in four-prong events.

The transmission regeneration amplitude after a thick copper block has been measured. The quantity {∣ƒ(0)- overlineƒ(0)∣ }/{k} varies from 20.0 $\pm$ 1.4 mb at 2.75 GeV/c to 13.6 $\pm$ 1.2 mb at 7.25 GeV/c. Results are in agreement with optical model calculations in which real and imaginary parts of the amplitudes for single nucleon scattering are determined from forward dispersion relations and total cross-sections.

The cross section for inelastic electron-proton scattering was measured at incident electron energies of 1.5 to 6 GeV by magnetic analysis of the scattered electrons at angles between 10° and 35°. For invariant masses of the hardonic final state W ⩽ 1.4 GeV. the measured spectra are compared with theoretical predictions for electroproduction of the Δ(1236) isobar. The magnetic dipole transition form factor G ∗ M ( q 2 ) of the (γ N Δ)-vertex is derived for momentum transfers q 2 = 0.2 − 2.34 (GeV/ c ) 2 ard found to decrease more rapidly with q 2 than the proton form factors.

About 3700 two-prong and 5600 four-prong events of 10-GeV/c pp interactions in the Saclay 81-cm hydrogen bubble chamber have been measured and analyzed. The reliability of the identification of the different final states has been checked using Monte Carlo-generated events. For the channels accessible to analysis, cross sections and invariant-mass distributions are given. The c.m. angular distributions and the mean values of the transverse momentum for all final-state particles are shown and discussed. Production of Δ++(1236) accounts for about 30% of the cross section σ(pp→pnπ+)=4.1±0.4 mb. About 50% of the cross section σ(pp→ppπ+π−)=2.4±0.2 mb can be accounted for by Δ++ production. Production of nucleon isobars at 1450, 1520, and 1730 MeV and their subsequent decay into pπ+π− are investigated. Their cross sections, t dependences, and branching ratios are determined, using a one-pion-exchange model (OPEM) for calculating the background distributions. The production of resonances decaying into pπ− at 1236, 1500, and 1690 MeV is seen, and cross sections are given. Resonance production in the ppπ+π−π0 and pnπ+π+π− reactions is studied using background curves calculated with a model based on simple parametrizations of the c.m. momentum distributions. The production of nucleon isobars accounts for nearly 100% of these reactions. For the reactions pp→ppω, ppη, and ppf0, the cross sections found are 0.16±0.03, 0.16±0.07, and 0.10±0.04 mb, respectively, corrected for unobserved decay modes. It is shown that most of the gross features of the pion-production reactions can be explained by the OPEM with the form factors of Ferrari and Selleri.

Antiproton-proton elastic scattering has been measured at 3.55 GeV/ c in the c.m. angular range from 20° to 77° and from 109° to 160°. Forward elastic scattering shows a structure near t = −0.5 (GeV/ c ) 2 . In the backward region two events are observed.

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The reactions pp → NN π are studied at 19 GeV/ c and analysed in terms of the amplitudes with the low mass N π system in isospin states 1 2 and 3 2 respectively. The I − 1 2 cross section is compared with the corresponding one in π p→ ππ N at 8 GeV/ c .

The reaction e + e − → ω o has been measured by detecting the charged pions of the π + π − π o decay mode of the ω o. A partial decay width of ω o in e + e − : Γ e + e − =0.94±0.18 keV is deduced from this result.

The reaction e+d→e′+n+p was studied at electron scattering angles θ ⩽ 35° for four-momentum transfers of 0.39, 0.565 and 0.78 (GeV/ c ) 2 . By recording electron-neutron and electron-proton coincidences, the ratio of the electron scattering cross sections on quasi-free neutrons and protons was determined. An estimate of the binding effects, based on a Chew-Low-extrapolation, was made. Values for the neutron form factors were derived.

The differential cross section for π + p elastic scattering at 895, 945, 995 and 1040 MeV/ c has been measured in a hydrogen bubble chamber. The results are in good agreement with previous measurements using counter techniques except at extreme backward angles where significantly lower cross sections are obtained.

In the reaction p p → 3π + 3π − 2227 events, and in the reaction p p → 3π + 3π − π 0 6578 events have been analyzed. The general characteristics of the reactions, such as total cross sections, angular and momentum distributions, the production of ϱ, f, ω and η mesons, and angular correlations are presented.

Differential cross sections and polarizations have been measured for the reaction π − p → K 0 Λ and π − p → K 0 Σ 0 at 3.9 GeV/ c π − momentum. Comparison of these data with those of the related reactions K − n → π − Λ and K − p → π − Σ + (at approximately the same c.m. energy) indicate that simple Regge-pole models involving only K ∗ (890) and K ∗ (1420) exchange are unable to describe all the features of the data. On the other hand, comparison of the π − p → K 0 Σ 0 data with that of π + p → K + Σ + shows that the data are consistent with absence of exotic strange-meson exchange.

We report on coherent interactions in a 2.5 event/μb K − d exposure. The predominant channel studied is K − d → K − π + gp − d (415 events). We find strong Q- and L-production in the (K ππ ) system. The production mechanism determines I = 1 2 for both enhancements and a spin-parity in the series 0 − , 1 + ,2 − … . A spin-parity analysis shows the Q to be a 1 + object, while the L is 1 + or 2 − , although a higher spin cannot be excluded. The cross sections for Q and L production and other final states are presented.

Proton-proton elastic scattering has been measured over the angular range 7 to 16 mrad at centre-of-mass energies of 31, 45 and 53 GeV using the CERN Intersecting Storage Rings. The results indicate that the diffraction peak has continued to shrink with increasing energy, but not as fast as suggested by the results at lower energies.

We have analyzed the two-prong final states in π+p interactions at 3.9 GeVc. Our result for elastic scattering is σ (elastic) = 6.50±0.1 mb (statistical error only). We find the elastic slope to be 6.61±0.14 (GeVc)−2. We find the elastic forward cross section to be 40.0±1.4 mb(GeVc)2. We have applied a longitudinal-momentum analysis to the one-pion-production channel. We find the cross section for the reaction π++p→π++π0+p to be 2.30±0.06 mb and that for π++p→π++π++n to be 1.45±0.05 mb. For resonance-production cross sections in these channels we find Δ(1236)=0.60±0.07 mb, ρ(760)=0.86±0.06 mb, and diffraction dissociation = 1.69±0.11 mb. We find that we can satisfactorily fit all distributions in the one-pion-production channel without assuming any phase-space production. In the missing-mass channel we observe dominant Δ++(1236) production plus evidence for A2+ production.

The differential cross-sections for the annihilation processes p p→π − π + and p p→K − K + have been measured at an incident laboratory momentum at 5 GeV/ c . Strong backward and forward peaks are observed in the π + π − differential cross-sections while the K + K − cross-section is shown to have a peak only for K − going forward. The annihilation cross-sections are compared with the cross-sections for the crossed channel backward processes π ± p→p π ± and K ± p→pK ± .

Antiproton-proton elastic scattering has been measured at 5 GeV/c. A total of 30 000 events were observed in the angular range 17° < θ cm < 136°, corresponding to 0.3 < − t < 7.7 (GeV/ c 2 ). In addition to the known dip at − t = 0.5 ( GeV / c ) 2 , we observe a structure at about − t = 2 (GeV/ c ) 2 and a backward peak with a slope4.1 ± 0.6 (GeV/ c ) 2 . The extrapolated differential cross-section at u = 0 is 1.3 ± 0.8 μ b/(GeV/ c ) 2 .

The elastic scattering of K ± mesons on protons has been studied at 5 GeV/c. A total of about 500 000 events have been measured in the c.m. angular range 17° < θ cm < 165° corresponding to 0.2 < − t < (GeV/ c ) 2 . We observed a K − p backward peak which we have parametrized as d σ /d u = (0.6 ± 0.2) exp [(3.3 ± 0.6) u ] μb /(GeV/c) 2 , while for the K + p backward peak we find d σ /d u = (17.5 ± 1) exp [(3.6 ± 0.2) u ] μb /(GeV/c) 2 . The K − p cross-section falls to about 0.03 μ b ( GeV /c) 2 around − t = 5 (GeV/ c ) 2 , while the K + p cross-section stays in the vicinity of 0.3 μ b ( GeV /c) 2 in the same t -region. The K + p and K − p differential cross-sections have cross-over points at − t = 0.2, 1.1 and about 3.5 (GeV/ c ) 2 .

The differential cross-section for 5 GeV/ cπ + p and π − p elastic scattering have been measured in the c.m. angular region 27° < θ cm < 130° corresponding to 0.5 < | t | < 7.8 (GeV/ c ) 2 . Dips are observed in both reactions at − t = 2.8 and 4.8 (GeV/ c ) 2 where the cross-sections are approximately 0.1 μ b/(GeV/ c ) 2 .

The reaction π−+p→π−+p has been studied in the 15-in. bubble chamber at the Princeton-Pennsylvania Accelerator. The elastic scattering cross section was determined to be 8.5 ± 0.2 mb. The forward peak fits to an exponential in t with a slope of 8.1 ± 0.2 (GeV/c)−2. The forward differential cross section dσdΩ(0)=17.9±0.7 mb/sr. A fit of the center-of-mass angular distribution to Legendre polynomials needed terms up to the 12th order, corresponding to the highest nonzero partial wave of L=6.

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From a 3.5 ev/μb exposure of the BNL 80 inch chamber filled with deuterium to a 7.0 GeV/ c p beam we obtained 664 events in the channel p n → p π − p . The channel cross section is (1270 ± 110 60 ) μb. The final state is dominated by Δ (1230) production. The experimental data is well described by a one-pion exchange model with off-mass shell corrections.

A study of π − p → K ∗ Λ and π − p → K ∗ Σ° at 3.9 GeV /c indicates that the main features of both reactions can be interpreted in terms of simple exchange processes, the first involving both natural and unnatural exchange, the second showing evidence for natural parity exchange only.

We have measured the differential cross-section for the reaction p p → π + Λ − at 5 GeV /c , the π + being in t he cm angular range 0.47 < cos θ p π + cm < 0.98 , corresponding to 0.12 < − t < 2.40 (GeV/ c ) 2 . The angular distribution has a forward peak with a differential cross-section d σ d ω = 4.1 ± 1.6 μ b / sr for 0.94 < cos θ p π + cm < 0.96 .

The differential cross sections of the elastic backward scattering reaction π − n→n π − has been measured at 23 and 40 GeV/ c in the u -interval −0.07 ⩽ u ⩽ 0.01 (GeV/ c ) 2 .

The π−+p→π0+n differential cross section at 180° has been measured for 52 values of π− momentum from 1.8 to 6.0 GeV/c using a constant-geometry detection system. The average statistical uncertainty is ∼5% and the systematic uncertainty is ∼10%. The details of the experiment and the data analysis are discussed. The data are compared with those of other experiments with which they are generally in agreement. One set of data disagrees with those presented here and a possible reason for this is discussed. A five-parameter fit of the predictions of a dual-resonance model to our data gave excellent agreement. The differential cross sections at 180° for π±p elastic scattering have been compiled and the moduli and relative phase of the T=12 and T=32 pion-nucleon s- and u-channel amplitudes (|A12|, |A32|, and cosδ) have a minimum at u=0.4 GeV/c and, in the s channel, a corresponding minimum at s=2.2 GeV/c.

We present results of measurements of K ± p and p p elastic scattering and of the annihilation reactions p p →π + π − and p p → K + K − at an incident laboratory momentum of 5 GeV/ c . Nearly complete angular distributions were obtained. Results are also presented for π -meson proton elastic scattering in the momentum transfer ranges 2 < − t < 8 (GeV/ c ) 2 (for π + ) and 0.16 < − t < 7 (GeV/ c ) 2 (for π − ). All measurements were done in one experimental geometry. The measured differential cross sections range from 10 to 10 −5 mb/(GeV/ c ) 2 .

We have measured the reaction γ p → p π + π − in the DESY 1 m Streamer Chamber. The dominant ϱ o production is analyzed in terms of various models.

The results of an experiment performed at Adone, the 2×1.5-GeV e+e− Frascati storage ring, are presented. During ∼ 1500 hours of running time a total of 5164 electron-positron elastic scattering events (integrated luminosity L=3.5×1035 cm−2) and 605 noncoplanar events from the reaction e+e−→a±+b±+anything (effective integrated luminosity L=2.5×1035 cm−2) have been collected at c.m. energies ranging from 1.4 to 2.4 GeV. Over the energy range explored (1.4-2.4 GeV), corresponding to an average q2 ranging from 0.8 to 2.4 (GeV/c)2, the yield of wide-angle (60°<θ<120°) electron-positron elastic scattering events is found to be in good agreement with the predictions of quantum electrodynamics (QED) (R=σexpσQED=1.05±0.04). The noncoplanar events appear to be of a hadronic nature and are produced with a much higher cross section than predicted on the basis of ρ, ω, φ dominance at these energies. The total cross section for the reaction e+e−→a±b±+anything shows a rapid increase to ∼ 90 nb between 1.0 and 1.5 GeV and falls off slowly to ∼ 50 nb at 2.4 GeV. Cross sections for some of the channels contributing to this multihadron process (e+e−→π+π−π+π−, e+e−→π+π−π+π−+neutrals, e+e−→3π+3π−) have been determined and are reported.

We report our first measurements of the polarization in the elastic scattering of negative pions from polarized protons at an incident pion momentum of 40 GeV/ c . The momentum-transfer region covered was 0.08 < | t | < 1.3 (GeV/ c ) 2 . The angular distribution of the polarization exhibits a first minimum of ∼ − 5% and the well-known zero around t ≈ − 0.6 (GeV/ c ) 2 . The energy variation of the first minimum (at around t = − 0.2) may be expressed in a simple form, P avr = −(0.48±0.06) s −0.52±0.05 .

We present the first results of a measurement of the total cross-section σ T in proton-proton collisions at equivalent laboratory momenta between 291 and 1480 GeV/ c at the CERN Intersecting Storage Rings (ISR). The method is based on the measurement of the ratio of the total interaction rate and the machine luminosity. The data show an increase of about 10% in σ T in this energy interval.

Production and decay characteristics of electroproduced rho mesons were studied in the final state epπ + π − .

The reaction K − p → X K − p has been measured at 25 and 40 GeV/ c at the Serpukhov accelerator using the CERN-IHEP boson spectrometer. At both energies we observe production of the resonances K ∗− (890) and K ∗− (1420) in the channels K ∗− → K 0 π − and K − π 0 ; the momentum dependence of their production cross sections is found to be σ[ K ∗− (890)] ∞ p inc −1.48±0.04 and σ [ K ∗− (1420)] ∞ p inc −0.8±0.2 .

The reaction γp→; π + π − p in the energy range 4.1 to 6.2 GeV has been studied with a tagged photon beam incident on a liquid hydrogen target in the DESY one-meter streamer chamber. The reaction is analysed in terms of the longitudinal phase space (LPS) method. The one-pion-exchange model for Δ(1236) production and decay is examined. For the diffractive part of the LPS a dual model with pomeron exchange is investigated. In particular, the s -channel helicity conservation dual model of Dewey and Humpert describes the data well.

The target asymmetry T = ( σ ↑ − σ ↓)/( σ ↑ + σ ↓) for the reaction γ p → π + n has been measured at the Bonn 2.5 GeV electron synchrotron for a pion c.m. angle of 40° and γ energies between 0.5 and 2.2 GeV. Butanol was used as the target material. About 35% of the protons could be polarized using the dynamic-polarization method in a continuous-flow cryostat operating at 1°K and 25 kG. The π + mesons were detected in a magnetic-spectrometer system. Considerable structure in the asymmetry was observed.

Final total cross sections are given for a counter experiment at SLAC on hadronic photon absorption in hydrogen, deuterium, carbon, copper, and lead at incident energies from 3.7 to 18.3 GeV. Some of the nucleon cross sections have been revised and the C, Cu, and Pb data from 3.7 to 7.4 GeV have not been reported previously. The cross sections for complex nuclei vary approximately as A0.9 in our energy range, indicating that the photon interacts, at least partially, as a strongly interacting particle. The energy dependences of the proton and neutron cross sections are also similar to those of hadron-nucleon cross sections and hence may be fitted by a typical Regge parametrization, yielding σT(γp)=(98.7±3.6)+(65.0±10.1)ν−12 μb and σT(γn)=(103.4±6.7)+(33.1±19.4)ν−12 μb, where ν is the photon energy in GeV. These extrapolate to the same value at infinite energy, consistent with Pomeranchukon exchange, and the energy-dependent part yields an isovector-to-isoscalar-exchange ratio of 0.18 ± 0.06. While these observations are qualitatively consistent with vector meson dominance, quantitatively vector dominance fails in relating our results to ρ photo-production on hydrogen or to experiments determining the ρ-nucleon cross section. Vector dominance cannot be rescued by assuming that the ρ-photon coupling constant depends on the photon mass. Instead, an additional short-range interaction is apparently required, possibly due to a heavy (≳ 2 GeV / c2) vector meson or to a bare-photon interaction. The additional interaction accounts for approximately 20% of the total photoabsorption cross section.

Elastic diffraction scattering of π − , K − and p on protons has been measured at 25 and 40 GeV/c at the Serpukhov Proton Accelerator. Differential elastic cross sections and diffraction slopes are presented in the momentum-transfer interval 0.07–0.80 (GeV/ c ) 2 and compared with existing data at lower energies.

The v and v nucleon total cross-sections have been determined as a function of energy using a sample of 2500 v and 950 v event. The results are compared with predictions of scaling and charge symmetry hypotheses.

We have measured cross sections, rapidity and transverse momentum distributions, and vector meson polarization for the reactions pp→ ϱ o +anything, pp→ ω +charged particles, and pp → K ∗± + anything at incident laboratory momenta of 12 and 24 GeV/ c . We discuss various consequences of our results as well as possible connections with lepton pair production.

We have investigated the final states K ∗0 (890)Σ, K ∗0 (890)Σ 0 and K ∗0 (890) Y 1 ∗0 (1385) produced in π − p interactions at 3.93 GeV/ c . We present the differential cross sections and spin density matrix elements for the resonances as functions of momentum transfer, as well as the gL and Σ 0 polarizations. The Σ 0 polarization is found to be positive and maximal. An amplitude analysis is performed for the K ∗ Λ and K ∗ Σ 0 reactions, and it is found that one natural parity transversity amplitude is dominant for the latter.

The results of the total cross section measurements of neutrons on protons, deuterons and nuclei C, O, Al, Cu, Sn, Pb in the energy range of 28–54 GeV are reported.

We have observed a second sharp peak in the cross section for e+e−→hadrons at a center-of-mass energy of 3.695±0.004 GeV. The upper limit of the full width at half-maximum is 2.7 MeV.

Results are reported based on a study of π − p interactions at 147 GeV/ c in the FERMILAB 30-inch Proportional Wire Hybrid Bubble Chamber System. We have measured the topological cross sections and separated two-prong elastic and inelastic channels. In addition, we have extracted leading particle cross sections using the increased momentum resolution of the downstream proportional wire chambers. We have compared our results with experiments and predictions of a simple fragmentation hyphothesis.

The reaction e − + p → e − + p + η has been studied in the region of the S 11 (1535)-resonance by detecting the recoil proton in coincidence with the scattered electron. The reaction has been observed at three four-momentum transfers of the virtual photon: q 2 = 0.2, 0.28 and 0.4 (GeV/ c ). First results of the differential cross section measurements are given and compared with quark model calculations.

The angular distribution of π + p elastic scattering has been measured at an incident momentum of 10 GeV/ c . Nearly the whole angular range was covered in one experimental set-up. The pronounced dip at − t = 2.8 (GeV/ c ) 2 , observed at lower momenta, has diminished and is essentially a shoulder at 10 GeV/ c . The other structure at larger momentum transfers are also different in detail from what we observed at 5 GeV/ c . In the 90° c.m. region the differential cross-section is approximately one nb/(GeV/ c ) 2 , which is more than two orders of magnitude lower than at 5 GeV/ c .

K + p elastic scattering has been measured over nearly the whole angular range at an incident momentum of 10 GeV/ c . The differential cross-section is found to decrease smoothly in the forward direction to - t ≈ 2 (GeV/ c ) 2 , where there is a change in slope, followed by a further decrease to - t ≈ 6 (GeV/ c ) 2 . Around 90° c.m. the cross-section is approximately 1 nb/(GeV/ c ) 2 , which is more than two orders of magnitude lower than at 5 GeV/ c . The backward peak has no structure.

Results on multiplicities, topological cross sections, total particle production cross sections, and correlations between charged particle and π 0 production are presented for pp interactions at 12 and 24 GeV/ c incident laboratory momentum. Inclusive production of π ± , K s 0 , p , Λ, Σ ± and Λ is studied; particle spectra are shown in single and double differential form and are compared, in different kinematic regions, with data obtained at other incident momenta and with other beam particles.

We have investigated the ρ-meson production mechanism in the three reactions π±p→ρ±p and π−p→ρ0n at 3.9 GeV/c (s=8.2 GeV2) using the prism-plot technique. Differential cross sections at all momentum transfers are presented. A significant backward peak has been found in all three reactions. The differential cross sections for these backward peaks are given and are compared with the equivalent pion elastic and charge-exchange cross sections in the backward direction. Using a linear combination of the three differential cross sections we have isolated the I=0 exchange contribution in the forward direction. This differential cross section has a zero at −t=0.45 (GeV/c)2 and is fitted by the dual absorptive model of Harari with an interaction radius of ∼ 1.2 F. The total I=0 cross section is calculated and compared with similarly determined cross sections at higher momenta. An analysis of the properties of the other possible spin-parity exchanges is also presented.

The π − p→K 0 λ polarization has been measured at 5 GeV/ c in the range 0<− t <1.4 (GeV/ c ) 2 . The polarization is small for − t ⪅0.4 (GeV/ c ) 2 , becoming negative at the higher values of − t .

The average charged particle multiplicity, 〈 n ch ( M X 2 )〉, in the reaction K + p→K o X ++ is studied as a function of the mass squared, M X 2 , of the recoil system X and also as a function of the K o transverse momentum, p T , at incident momenta of 5.0, 8.2 and 16.0 GeV/ c . The complete data samples yield distributions which are not independent of c.m. energy squared, s , They exhibit a linear dependence on log ( M X 2 X / M o 2 )[ M o 2 =1 GeV 2 ] with a change in slope occurring for M X 2 ≈ s /2, and do not agree with the corresponding distributions of 〈 n ch 〉 as a function of s for K + p inelastic scattering. Sub-samples of the data for which K o production via beam fragmentation, central production and target fragmentation are expected to be the dominant mechanisms show that, within error, the distribution of 〈 n ch ( M X 2 )〉 versus M X 2 is independent of incident momentum for each sub-sample separately. In particular in the beam fragmentation region the 〈 n ch ( M X 2 )〉 versus M X 2 distribution agrees rather well with that of 〈 n ch 〉 versus s for inelastic K + p interactions. The latter result agrees with recent results on the reactions pp → pX and π − p → pX in the NAL energy range. Evidence is presented for the presence of different production mechanisms in these separate regions.