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 results of a study of the reaction π-p→π-π-π+p at2 147 GeV/c carried out at the Fermilab Proportional Wire 30″ Bubble Chamber Hybrid Spectrometer are reported. More than 92% of the cross-section ((670±41) μb) for this reaction is contained in those for proton and pion diffraction dissociation. The cross-sections for pion diffraction events with three-pion invariant mass in given regions are in agreement with values obtained by extrapolation of fits to data at lower incidentpion momenta. ρ0π- events make an important contribution in the A1 and A2 mass regions, and the data are consistent with contributions from f0π- in the A3 mass region. The cross-section for proton diffraction events is in agreement with a smooth extrapolation of the data at lower momentum.
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