Multiplicities in semi-inclusive deep-inelastic scattering are presented for each charge state of \pi^\pm and K^\pm mesons. The data were collected by the HERMES experiment at the HERA storage ring using 27.6 GeV electron and positron beams incident on a hydrogen or deuterium gas target. The results are presented as a function of the kinematic quantities x_B, Q^2, z, and P_h\perp. They represent a unique data set for identified hadrons that will significantly enhance our understanding of the fragmentation of quarks into final-state hadrons in deep-inelastic scattering.
pi+ multiplicities from HERMES, Target: H, Target: D, VM subtracted.
pi- multiplicities from HERMES, Target: H, Target: D, VM subtracted.
K+ multiplicities from HERMES, Target: H, Target: D, VM subtracted.
A series of semi-inclusive deep-inelastic scattering measurements on deuterium, helium, neon, krypton, and xenon targets has been performed in order to study hadronization. The data were collected with the HERMES detector at the DESY laboratory using a 27.6 GeV positron or electron beam. Hadron multiplicities on nucleus A relative to those on the deuteron, R_A^h, are presented for various hadrons (\pi^+, \pi^-, \pi^0, K^+, K^-, p, and \bar{p}) as a function of the virtual-photon energy \nu, the fraction z of this energy transferred to the hadron, the photon virtuality Q^2, and the hadron transverse momentum squared p_t^2. The data reveal a systematic decrease of R_A^h with the mass number A for each hadron type h. Furthermore, R_A^h increases (decreases) with increasing values of \nu (z), increases slightly with increasing Q^2, and is almost independent of p_t^2, except at large values of p_t^2. For pions two-dimensional distributions also are presented. These indicate that the dependences of R_A^{\pi} on \nu and z can largely be described as a dependence on a single variable L_c, which is a combination of \nu and z. The dependence on L_c suggests in which kinematic conditions partonic and hadronic mechanisms may be dominant. The behaviour of R_A^{\pi} at large p_t^2 constitutes tentative evidence for a partonic energy-loss mechanism. The A-dependence of R_A^h is investigated as a function of \nu, z, and of L_c. It approximately follows an A^{\alpha} form with \alpha \approx 0.5 - 0.6.
PI+ multiplicty ratio (Helium/Deuterium) as a function of NU.
K+ multiplicty ratio (Helium/Deuterium) as a function of NU.
P multiplicty ratio (Helium/Deuterium) as a function of NU.
Measurements of the individual multiplicities of pi+, pi- and pi0 produced in the deep-inelastic scattering of 27.5 GeV positrons on hydrogen are presented. The average charged pion multiplicity is the same as for neutral pions, up to approximately z= 0.7, where z is the fraction of the energy transferred in the scattering process carried by the pion. This result (below z= 0.7) is consistent with isospin invariance. The total energy fraction associated with charged and neutral pions is 0.51 +/- 0.01 (stat.) +/- 0.08 (syst.) and 0.26 +/- 0.01 (stat.) +/- 0.04 (syst.), respectively. For fixed z, the measured multiplicities depend on both the negative squared four momentum transfer Q^2 and the Bjorken variable x. The observed dependence on Q^2 agrees qualitatively with the expected behaviour based on NLO-QCD evolution, while the dependence on x is consistent with that of previous data after corrections have been made for the expected Q^2-dependence.
The measured PI0 multiplicity. Additional 9 PCT systematic error.
The measured multiplicity for charged pions, individually and the average. Additional 7 PCT systematic error.
The charged pion multiplicity as a function of x for four different z regions.
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