The reaction π − p → K + K − π − p at 16 GeV/ c was studied in the CERN OMEGA spectrometer and a partial-wave analysis (PWA) of the low-mass (K + K − π − ) system (1.3–2.0 GeV) was performed. Only states in the unnatural spin-parity series produced by natural parity exchange are important and they approximately conserve t -channel helicity. The 1 + S K ∗ K wave dominates the low-mass (K + K − π − ) region. We observe an enhancement in 2 − P K ∗ K wave at a mass of 1.7 GeV, consistent with the decay of the A 3 resonance.
TOTAL ACCEPTANCE CORRECTED CROSS SECTION.
ACCEPTANCE CORRECTED.
MOST IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTING STATES CORRECTED FOR ACCEPTANCE.