Measurements of the differential cross section for the inclusive production of high-energy π0's are reported for the reactions π±p→π0X at a laboratory momentum of 14 GeV/c. The kinematic range covered, in terms of the Feynman scaling variable x and the transverse momentum P⊥, is 0.25≤x≤1.0 and 0≤P⊥≤0.7 GeV/c. Two spectrometers, both employing large NaI(Tl) crystals, are used to detect the π0's and to identify them with a mass resolution of 17 MeV (full width at half maximum). The results are in accord with the hypothesis of limiting fragmentation, which regards the measured reactions, in the kinematic range covered, as examples of disfavored fragmentation.

Results are presented of a wire-spark-chamber spectrometer measurement of the differential cross section for π−p elastic scattering at 14.15 GeV/c. The region covered in the square of the four-momentum transfer, t, is 0.01<−t<0.78 (GeV/c)2. The cross section is found to obey very nearly a simple exponential t dependence with no evidence of structure. A fit to the data of the form dσdt∝exp(bt+ct2) on the range 0.05<−t<0.78 (GeV/c)2 (i.e., above the region affected by Coulomb scattering) yields b=8.26±0.10 (GeV/c)2 and c=1.01±0.17 (GeV/c)−4. Considering the results of previous measurements, b≃11 (GeV/c)−2 for −t<0.05 (GeV/c)2, a deviation from the simple exponential near −t≃0.05 (GeV/c)2 is indicated.

We report on measurements of the differential π±p cross section at pion energies Tπ=32.7, 45.1, and 68.6 MeV. The measurements, covering the angular range 25°≤θlab≤123°, have been carried out at the Paul-Scherrer-Institute (PSI) in Villigen, Switzerland, employing the magnet spectrometer LEPS. The absolute normalization of the π±p cross sections have been achieved by relating them to the electromagnetic cross sections of μ±12C scattering. The results are in agreement with those of our preceding measurements at Tπ=32.2 and 45.1 MeV insofar as they overlap with the region of the Coulomb nuclear interference investigated there. A comparison with the predictions of the Karlsruhe-Helsinki phase shift analysis KH80, which has formed the basis for the determination of the ‘‘experimental’’ σ term, reveals considerable deviations. These are most pronounced for the π+p cross sections at Tπ=32.7 and 45.1 MeV. Single energy partial wave fits result in S-wave contributions, which are about 1° lower in magnitude then those specified by the KH80 solution. The data at 68.6 MeV are in good agreement with the phase shift analysis.

The values of the pion nucleon (πN) σ term, as determined, on the one hand, from experimental pion nucleon scattering by means of dispersion relations and, on the other hand, from baryon masses by means of chiral perturbation theory, differ by 10 to 15 MeV. The origin of this discrepancy is not yet understood. If the difference between the two values is attributed to the scalar current of strange sea quark pairs within the proton, the contribution to the proton mass would be of the order of 120 MeV. The discrepancy may hint at either theoretical deficiencies or an inadequate πN database. In order to provide reliable experimental data we have measured angular distributions of elastic pion proton scattering at pion energies Tπ=32.2 and 44.6 MeV using the magnet spectrometer LEPS located at the Paul-Scherrer-Institute (PSI) in Villigen, Switzerland. From the data covering the region of the Coulomb nuclear interference, the real parts of the isospin-even forward scattering amplitude ReD+(t=0), have been determined as a function of energy. The results have been compared with the predictions of the Karlsruhe-Helsinki phase shift analysis KH80, revealing discrepancies most pronounced for the π+p data. The experimentally determined values for ReD+(t=0), however, support the KH80 prediction (which is based on πN data available in 1979).

A study of the reaction π + p → p π + π o at 16 GeV/ c incident momentum has been made using the prism plot analysis to reject background events arising from elastic and multineutral contaminations and to separate different reaction channels ( ϱ + p, g + p, Δ + π + , Δ ++ π o , π + (p π o ) DD ). Cross sections, invariant mass distributions and production and decay angular distributions are presented. For the channel corresponding to proton diffraction dissociation strong violation of both s - and t -channel helicity conservation is found for low values of the (p π o ) mass. We demonstrate that the prism plot method provides a better separation of background events than conventional methods using kinematic cuts.

Cross-section values or upper limits are presented for twenty-five two-body hypercharge-exchange reactions in K − p and π + p interactions at 10 and 16 GeV/ c . The 16 GeV/ c results are compared with some predictions of line-reversal plus exchange-degenerate Regge poles, of SU(3) and of the additive quark model. Agreement is found in all cases.

Quasi-inclusive and total inclusive ϱ + , ϱ − and ϱ 0 cross sections have been studied, using data of a π + p and a pp bubble chamber experiment at 16 and 24 GeV/ c , respectively. In pp collisions it is found that the total inclusive cross sections for ϱ 0 , ϱ + and ϱ − production are about equal. This equality also holds for the differential cross sections d σ/ d y ∗ , all showing the characteristics of dominantly central production. In the π + p reactions the ϱ − are mainly produced centrally, whereas there are strong additional contributions in the beam fragmentation region for ϱ + and ϱ 0 mesons. In the central region, however, the cross sections for ϱ + , ϱ − and ϱ 0 production are almost equal within errors. All our findings agree with what is expected from quark model predictions.

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The reactions π + p giving π 0 Δ ++ (1236), η (549) Δ ++ (1236) and η ′(958) Δ ++ (1236) are studied at 16 GeV/ c . Cross sections, differential cross sections and Δ ++ (1236) spin density matrix elements are presented. The π 0 Δ ++ (1236) differential cross section d σ d t′ indicates a dip towards t ′ = 0 and has a minimum at t ′ ≅ 0.6 GeV 2 . The Δ ++ (1236) spin density matrix elements are consistent with the predictions of the Stodolsky-Sakurai model, except perhaps near the forward direction. For ηΔ ++ (1236), the differential cross section d σ d t′ turns over in the forward direction and presents no further structure. SU(3) sum rules are tested and found to be approximately satisfied. The data agree with factorization of ϱ exchange. The effective A 2 trajectory is calculated and found to be consistent with that reported from the reaction π − p → η n.

The dominant partial waves of the diffractively produced N π system at low Nπ masses (⩽ 1.4 GeV) are determined in the reactions π ± p → π (N π ) at 16 GeV/ c . A satisfactory description of our data can only be obtained by strong contributions of both a 1 2 − S-wave and a 3 2 + P-wave, violating the Gribov-Morrison rule. Spin and parity of the diffractively produced states are found from the interference between diffraction and Δ (1236) production. The interference term is obtained by an isospin analysis.