A study is presented of the inclusive production cross sections of K ∗± (892) vector mesons in pp interactions at 12 and 24 GeV/ c and in π + p interactions at 16 GeV/ c . The K ∗± inclusive cross section is ∼0.9 mb for both pp at 24 GeV/ c and π + p interactions at 16 GeV/ c . For pp interactions, σ( K ∗+ ) and σ( K ∗− ) are seen to rise with energy, showing a threshold behaviour. In both pp and π + p interactions, σ( K ∗+ ) largely exceeds σ( K ∗− ) at these energies and this excess is interpreted as K ∗+ production by beam and target fragmentations. The decays of K ∗±0 yield ∼30% of the K 0 observed in the final states. The p T 2 dependence of both K ∗+ and K ∗ − cross sections is described by an exponential with slope of ∼3.3 (GeV/ c ) −2 . The longitudinal momentum spectra for K ∗+ in 16 GeV/ c π + p and 24 GeV/ c pp interactions are similar in shape in the target hemisphere. The K ∗− spectra are similar over the whole kinematic region when viewed in the quark c.m.s. and point to a central production mechanism. Comparing K ∗+ and ρ 0 production, striking similarities are found.
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ASSUMED SIG(KS)=SIG(KL).
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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.
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DATA OBTAINED FROM FIGURE BY A.A. LEBEDEV.
DATA OBTAINED FROM FIGURE BY A.A. LEBEDEV.