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.
We have investigated ω production in the reaction π−p→ωn very close to threshold. The dependence of the mass, width, branching ratio, and cross section upon the final-state c.m. momentum, P*, were studied. The mass and width were independent of P* with values of 782.4 ± 0.5 and 10.22 ± 0.43 MeV, respectively. The branching ratio Γ(ω→π0γ)Γ(ω→π+π−π0) was also constant, having a value of 0.084 ± 0.013. An upper limit of 0.18 was set on the branching ratio Γ(ω→π0π0γ)Γ(ω→π0γ). We observed a rapid fall in the cross section below P*=100 MeV/c. This could not be explained in terms of S-wave production alone, but could be fitted by a resonant P wave plus a noninterfering S wave.
CROSS SECTION DEPENDENCE ON FINAL STATE CENTRE OF MASS MOMENTUM. TABULATED VALUES TAKEN FROM TABLE 1 OF H. KARAMI ET AL., NP B154, 503 (1979).
Measurements are reported of the differential cross section for the reaction π − +p→ ω +n from threshold to a final-state c.m. momentum P ∗ of 200 MeV /c . The previously reported fall in total cross section σ/P ∗ below about 100 MeV/ c is again seen. The differential cross section remains close to isotropic over the entire range. A paralle experiment on the variation in the elastic differential cross section across the threshold shows evidence of this threshold. The elastic data cover a range of incident moments from 1010 to 1180 MeV/ c in steps of 5 MeV/ c .
CROSS SECTION DEPENDENCE ON FINAL STATE CENTRE OF MASS MOMENTUM.
ANGULAR DISTRIBUTIONS ARE ALMOST ISOTROPIC.
LEGENDRE POLYNOMIAL COEFFICIENTS NORMALIZED SUCH THAT SIG = 4*PI*LEG(L=0).
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