A sample of 1200 ϕ mesons produced in the Zweig-rule-forbidden reactions π±N→ϕN shows a flat t distribution (slope=1.7 ± 0.2 GeV−2) and a cross section suppressed by 0.0032±0.0004 relative to π−p→ωn. Natural-parity-exchange ω and ϕ production have similar t dependences, while ω and ϕ production by unnatural-parity exchange differ markedly. Interference between the ϕ and the underlying K¯K S wave indicates substantial nucleon-spin incoherence between the amplitudes for ϕ and S-wave production.
Axis error includes +- 10/10 contribution (RES-DEF(RES=PHI,BACK=CORRECTED)).
Axis error includes +- 10/10 contribution (RES-DEF(RES=PHI,BACK=CORRECTED)).
STATISTICAL ERRORS ONLY.
A novel form of mass spectrometer has been used to measure the masses, widths, and cross sections of the η, ω, X0(958), and φ mesons near their respective thresholds in the reaction π−+p→missingmass+n. The incident momentum is varied in small steps through the threshold while neutrons of a given momentum are detected near zero degrees. The lower limit of the c.m. momentum P* at which measurements have been made ranges from about 50 MeV/c at the φ to about 30 MeV/c at the η. A somewhat low value for the ω mass, 782.3 ± 0.6 MeV, is found. The width of the X0 is < 1.9 MeV (95% confidence level). All four mesons show evidence of S-wave production, with values of σP* of 21.2 ± 1.8, 0.35 ± 0.03, and 0.29 ± 0.06 μb/(MeV/c) for the η, X0, and φ, respectively. A rapid rise in the ω cross section appears to be modified by a final-state interaction. The effect of this rise can probably be seen in some S11 pion-nucleon phase-shift solutions. Evidence is also presented of a sudden drop in the π+π− mass spectrum just above the threshold for the production of a K+K− pair. The paper includes a comprehensive discussion of the method and of the details of the spectrometer.
CROSS SECTIONS NEAR THRESHOLD.