In an exposure of the Argonne National Laboratory 12-foot hydrogen bubble chamber to a beam of 12.4-GeV/c protons, we have measured the total and differential cross sections for the inclusive reactions p+p→γ+X, π0+X, K0+X, and Λ+X, as well as estimates for the inclusive η and Σ0 cross sections. We present the average number of π0, K0, and Λ as a function of the associated charge multiplicity. We observe that the average charge multiplicity in pp collisions is the same whether or not a π0, K0, or Λ is also produced in the interaction. Invariant cross sections are presented as a function of PT2 and x, the Feynman scaling variable. The π0 differential cross sections are consistent with the relation dσdP(π0)=12[dσdP(π+)+dσdP(π−)] for all pion momenta P. The differential cross section for Λ production indicates a break in the distribution of |t−tmin|=1.4 (GeV/c)2. The polarization of the Λ's is found to be consistent with zero for all values of x.
Forum