The ratio of the yields of antiprotons to protons in pp collisions has been measured by the ALICE experiment at $\sqrt{s} = 0.9$ and $7$ TeV during the initial running periods of the Large Hadron Collider(LHC). The measurement covers the transverse momentum interval $0.45 < p_{\rm{t}} < 1.05$ GeV/$c$ and rapidity $|y| < 0.5$. The ratio is measured to be $R_{|y| < 0.5} = 0.957 \pm 0.006 (stat.) \pm 0.014 (syst.)$ at $0.9$ TeV and $R_{|y| < 0.5} = 0.991 \pm 0.005 (stat.) \pm 0.014 (syst.)$ at $7$ TeV and it is independent of both rapidity and transverse momentum. The results are consistent with the conventional model of baryon-number transport and set stringent limits on any additional contributions to baryon-number transfer over very large rapidity intervals in pp collisions.

Data on the mean multiplicity of strange hadrons produced in minimum bias proton--proton and central nucleus--nucleus collisions at momenta between 2.8 and 400 GeV/c per nucleon have been compiled. The multiplicities for nucleon--nucleon interactions were constructed. The ratios of strange particle multiplicity to participant nucleon as well as to pion multiplicity are larger for central nucleus--nucleus collisions than for nucleon--nucleon interactions at all studied energies. The data at AGS energies suggest that the latter ratio saturates with increasing masses of the colliding nuclei. The strangeness to pion multiplicity ratio observed in nucleon--nucleon interactions increases with collision energy in the whole energy range studied. A qualitatively different behaviour is observed for central nucleus--nucleus collisions: the ratio rapidly increases when going from Dubna to AGS energies and changes little between AGS and SPS energies. This change in the behaviour can be related to the increase in the entropy production observed in central nucleus-nucleus collisions at the same energy range. The results are interpreted within a statistical approach. They are consistent with the hypothesis that the Quark Gluon Plasma is created at SPS energies, the critical collision energy being between AGS and SPS energies.

Data on the mean multiplicity ofπ- produced in minimum bias proton-proton, proton-neutron and proton-nucleus interactions as well as central nucleus-nucleus collisions at momenta of 1.4–400 GeV/c per nucleon have been compiled and studied. The results for neutron-neutron and nucleon-nucleon interactions were then constructed. The dependence of the mean pion multiplicity in proton-nucleus interactions and central collisions of identical nuclei are studied as a function of the collision energy and the nucleus mass number. The number of produced pions per participant nucleon in central collisions of identical nuclei is found to be independent of the number of participants at a fixed incident momentum per nucleon. The mean multiplicity of negatively charged hadrons per participant nucleon for central nucleus-nucleus collisions is lower by about 0.12 than the corresponding multiplicity for nucleon-nucleon interactions atpLAB≲15 A·GeV/c, whereas the result at 200 A·GeV/c is above the corresponding nucleon-nucleon multiplicity. This may indicate change of the collision dynamics at high energy.

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Data on the multiplicity and inclusive spectra of γ produced in inelastic pNe20 and pN interactions at 300 GeV are presented. The γ multiplicity for pNe20 interactions is 11.43±0.23, and the ratio of 〈nγ〉 for pNe20 and pN interactions is 1.48±0.05. From an analysis of the effective-mass distributions, 〈nπ0〉=4.91±0.52 and 〈nη0〉=1.47±0.33. In fact, η0 production is much higher in pNe20 interactions [R(η0π0)=0.66±0.12 for np≥21] than in pN interactions [R(η0π0)=0.06±0.04]. No η′(958) signal is seen. Strong correlations between 〈nγ〉 and np, the number of secondary protons, are observed, primarily from the central and target fragmentation regions. Inclusive y* and p⊥ spectra are analyzed and evidence for low-energy cascading and rescattering of fast particles in the projectile fragmentation region is discussed. The data are compared to the predictions of the additive quark model, the Lund model, and the dual parton model.

The reactionpp→pf(K+K-π+π-)ps, where theK+K− π+π- system is centrally produced, has been studied at 300 GeV/c. TheK*0\(K^{*0} \bar K^{*0} \) final state has been observed and the cross sections for its central production are found to be the same at 300 and 85 GeV/c. TheK*0\(K^{*0} \bar K^{*0} \) final state appears to be produced as a non-resonant threshold enhancement.

The reaction pp→p f ( π + π − π + π − )p s , where the π + π − π + π − system is centrally produced, has been studied at 300 GeV/ c in an experiment designed to search for gluonic states. The π + π − π + π − mass spectrum shows evidence for the f 1 (1285) with a mass of 1281±1 MeV and a width of 31±5 MeV. In addition there is evidence for two new enhancements at masses of 1449±4 and 1901±13 MeV with widths of 78±18 and 312±61 MeV respectively. An analysis of the state at 1.45 GeV indicates that it is not a π + π − π + π − decay mode of the f 1 (1420) or ι η(1440) .

The K + K − and K S 0 K S 0 systems centrally produced in the reaction pp→p f K K p s have been studied at 300 GeV/ c incident momentum. Both the K + K − and the K S 0 K S 0 mass spectra show large resonant production. For the first time in hadron collisions, clear evidence is found for the θ f 2 (1720) with parameters m =1713±10 MeV, Γ =181±30 MeV for the K + K − decay mode and m =1706±10 MeV, Γ =104±30 MeV for the K S 0 K S 0 decay mode. A spin analysis of the K + K − spectrum shows that for the θ f 2 (1720) J P =2 + is strongly favoured while 0 + and 1 − are excluded.

The reaction pp→p f (K + K − K + K − )p s in which the K + K − K + K − system is centrally produced has been studied at 300 GeV/ c . φφ production has been observed and the ratio σ (φK + K − )/ σ ( φφ ) is 1.0±0.3. The cross section for central production of φφ is found to be the same at 300 GeV/ c and 85 GeV/ c . An angular analysis of the φφ system favours J P =2 + over 0 − .