We have studied the K ππ system in the 14.3 GeV/ c reactions K − p → K − π + π − p, K − p → K 0 π − π 0 and K − p → K 0 π + π − n . The data have been obtained from a 500 000 picture exposure of the CERN 2m HBC. The first two final states are dominated by Q-production in the Kππ system; there is also an L-signal at M (K ππ ) ∼ 1.75 GeV. The reaction cross sections are compared to K − p data at other energies. We discuss the K ππ mass dependence of the diffractive production slope. Evidence is presented for a Q − p versus Q + p differential cross section cross-over around | t | = 0.17 GeV 2 . A t -channel isospin analysis for the KN → K ∗(890)π N channels in the Q-region shows that the I = 1 exchange amplitude is ⋍ 10% of the dominant I = 0 exchange amplitude. The K ππ decay distributions indicate a predominant J P = 1 + state in the Q-region, and an important J P = 2 − contribution in the L-region. We find neither s -channel nor t -channel helicity conservation at the meson vertex in the Q- or L-regions. The K π angular correlation moments within the K ππ diffractive system are characteristic of K π elastic scattering, suggesting a π -exchange Deck-type production mechanism. There is evidence for a Kf 0 and κπ contribution (where κ is the J P (K π ) = 0 + state) to the diffractive K ππ system. A fit to the K − π + π − and K 0 π − π 0 Dalitz-plot distributions for the Q-re gion indicates that the ratio of K ϱ to K ∗ π decay amplitudes decreases with increasing K ππ mass.
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