We have studied D* production mechanisms using data from a photoproduction experiment at the Fermilab Tagged Photon Spectrometer. A large sample of charged D*’s was selected via the clean signature of the cascade decay D*→D0π+ and subsequently D0→K−π+ or D0→K−π+π0. The cross section for the process γp→(D*++anything)p at an average energy of 105 GeV was measured to be 88±32 nb. Only (11±7)% of D*’s were found to be consistent with being accompanied solely by a D¯* or a D¯; the remaining events contain additional particles. The distribution of the production angle of the D* in the photon-fragmentation-system center of mass is strongly anisotropic and consistent with the form f(θ*)=cos4θ*. We set a limit on the associated-production-process cross section σ(γp→(D¯*−+anything)Λc) x)<60 nb (90% C.L.).
Inelastic and elastic $J/\psi$ photoproduction on hydrogen are investigated at a mean energy of 105 GeV. The inelastic cross section with $E_{\psi} / E_{\gamma}$ < 0.9 is significantly lower than the corresponding result for muoproduction on iron targets, but is consistent with a second-order perturbative QCD calculation.
We report the result of a brief experiment to measure the cross section for photoproduction of Jψ(3100). At a mean energy of 55 GeV we find this cross section per nucleon to be 37.5 ± 8.2 (statistical) ± 4 (systematic) nb. The result establishes the previously indicated rise in Jψ photoproduction on protons above 20 GeV and suggests that the rise has occurred by 55 GeV.
The photon total cross section on protons has been measured with high precision in the Fermilab tagged-photon beam for photon energies from 18 to 185 GeV. The cross section decreases to a broad minimum near 40 GeV, and then rises by about 4 μb over the remainder of the range. A ρ+ω+ϕ vector-dominance model (normalized to low-energy data) falls below the high-energy results by 2 to 6 μb, suggesting a contribution from charm-anticharm states.
Using the Primakoff formalism, we have extracted the radiative decay width of the A + 2 (1310) produced in coherent interactions of 200 GeV/ c π + mesons in nuclear targets. The width obtained is 295 ± 60 keV, a value consistent with quark-model predictions.
Using the Primakoff formalism, we have extracted the radiative decay width of the K ∗+ (1430) produced in coherent interactions of 200 GeV/ c K + mesons in nuclear targets. The width obtained is 240 ± 45 keV, a value reasonably consistent with quark-model predictions.
Coherent production of Kπ systems observed in the excitation of 200-GeV/c positive kaons on nuclear targets has been analyzed, including both electromagnetic and strong contributions, to yield a new value for the radiative width for the process K*+(890)→K+γ of 51 ± 5 keV.
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.
We have measured the single-particle inclusive cross sections for p+p→π±+X, K±+X, p+X, p¯+X in the low-p⊥ region (≲ 1.5 GeV/c) as a function of the radial scaling variable XR in p−p collisions at 100, 200, and 400 GeV at Fermilab. The measured π+π− and K+K− ratios are shown to be remarkably similar to the same ratios which have recently been measured at large p⊥ at 90° in the center-of-mass system.
The upgraded Collider Detector at Fermilab (CDF II) has a high bandwidth available for track based triggers. This capability in conjunction with the unprecedented integrated luminosity in excess of 1 fb −1 enables detailed studies of charm hadron production. CDF is now releasing first measurements of the prompt charm meson pair cross sections, which give access to QCD mechanisms by which charm quarks are produced in proton anti-proton collisions. Recent results on the spin alignment of J/ψ and ψ(2S) as well as on the relative production of the χc1(P1) and χc2(1P) challenge our understanding of the fragmentation of charm quarks into charmonium states.