This paper analyzes π−N→π−π−π+N events from Fermilab experiment E-580, using 200-GeV/c particles on a segmented target of plastic scintillator. Starting with 48 657 triggers, data-quality cuts and a cut on missing mass squared of M2<16 GeV2 lead to a final sample of 7205 events. The xF distribution of the 3π system shows almost all events in a sharp peak at xF=1, suggesting the presence of beam diffraction into three pions. The overall t’ distribution is fit to the sum of three exponential terms corresponding to coherent diffraction from carbon nuclei, diffraction from individual nucleons, and background. Cross sections per nucleon and exponential slopes are reported for each of the three components as a function of 3π effective mass. The cross section for diffraction from the nucleons in the target is 0.34±0.04 mb/nucleon. The cross section for coherent diffraction from carbon is 1.08±0.12 mb/nucleus. The exponential slope for diffraction is observed to decrease with increasing 3π effective mass. The fraction of coherent carbon diffraction in the total cross section is observed to decrease with increasing 3π effective mass. In the π−π+ effective-mass spectrum the ρ0(770) and f0(1270) are observed and their cross sections per nucleon are calculated. In the π−π−π+ effective-mass spectrum the A1−/A2− and A3− enhancements are observed and a cross section for the A3− is calculated.
The reaction π−N→KS0KS0π−N′ at 200 GeV/c has been observed with a sensitivity of 450±150 events/μb. The KS0KS0π− system exhibits substantial K*−(890)K0 production. Also produced are f0(1270)π−, f′(1515)π−, and K*−(1430)K0 final states. These resonances occur predominantly at threshold. The diffractive KS0KS0π− cross section is 3.4±1.1 μb. An enhancement near the A3−(1680) is observed in the KS0KS0π− invariant-mass distribution.
The diffractive dissociation of a 200-GeV/c π− beam into KS0KS0π+π−π− has been observed. The diffractive KS0KS0π+π−π− cross section is 1.59±0.78 μb. The ratio of the diffractive KS0KS0π+π−π− cross section to the diffractive KS0KS0π− cross section is 0.40±0.13, which is in good agreement with a diffractive-fragmentation-model prediction of 0.36. There is evidence for simultaneous production of K*− and K*+ in the diffractive KS0KS0π+π−π− sample. The K*+−KS0π−+ mass distribution shows an enhancement near 1.95 GeV.
The production of φ-meson pairs has been observed in 400-GeV/c proton-nucleon interactions at the Fermilab multiparticle spectrometer in the inclusive reaction pN→φφ+X, where each φ decays to a K+K− pair. A fast (200 nsec) high-level processor was used to selectively trigger on events containing two pairs of oppositely charged kaons having low invariant masses. The experimental apparatus and trigger processor are described. The cross section for φφ production and an upper limit for ηc production are presented.
For the reaction π−N→V0X, where V0 is a Ks0, Λ, and Λ¯ and X are charged particles, we measured the transverse- and longitudinal-momentum distributions, and inclusive cross sections for the V0 and for K*±(892), Σ±(1385), and Ξ±(1321). We compare our results with predictions of quark-counting rules, and conclude that valence quarks play an important role in strange-particle production.
Results are reported based on a study of 3114 π−p events at 205 GeV/c in the National Accelerator Laboratory 30-in. bubble chamber. The measured π−p total and elastic cross sections are 24.0 ± 0.5 and 3.0 ± 0.3 mb, respectively. The elastic differential cross section has a slope of 9.0 ± 0.7 GeV−2 for 0.03≤−t≤0.6 GeV2. The average charged-particle multiplicity for the inelastic events is 8.02 ± 0.12.
From measurements of proton-proton elastic scattering at very small momentum transfers where the nuclear and Coulomb amplitudes interfere, we have deduced values of ρ, the ratio of the real to the imaginary forward nuclear amplitude, for energies from 50 to 400 GeV. We find that ρ increases from -0.157 ± 0.012 at 51.5 GeV to +0.039 ± 0.012 at 393 GeV, crossing zero at 280 ± 60 GeV.
We have measured the invariant cross section for inclusive ϕ production in proton-nucleus collisions at 400 GeV/c near Feynman x=0. For transverse momenta in the range between 0.8 and 3.5 GeV/c the ratio of ϕ to π− rises from 1 to 7%. We also report on correlations with particles opposite the ϕ in the center-of-mass system as they relate to the Okubo-Zweig-Iizuka rule.
From analysis of V0 events observed in an exposure of the National Accelerator Laboratory 30-in. bubble chamber to 303−GeVc protons, we obtain these results: (1) 〈nπ0〉 rises approximately linearly with n-, implying strong coupling of neutral and charged pions, while 〈nKS0〉 is less coupled to n; (2) γ, KS0, and Λ0 production cross sections are approaching a scaling limit by 303 GeVc; (3) within the limited statistics, dσdy is flat in the central region for KS0 and low-multiplicity γ events.
In an exposure of the 30-in. hydrogen bubble chamber to a 303−GeVc proton beam, 2245 interactions have been observed. The measured total cross section is 39.0±1.0 mb and the average charged particle multiplicity 〈nch〉=8.86±0.16.