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.
Results on $\phi$ meson production in inelastic p+p collisions at CERN SPS energies are presented. They are derived from data collected by the NA61/SHINE fixed target experiment, by means of invariant mass spectra fits in the $\phi \to K^+K^-$ decay channel. They include the first ever measured double differential spectra of $\phi$ mesons as a function of rapidity $y$ and transverse momentum $p_T$ for proton beam momenta of 80 GeV/c and 158 GeV/c, as well as single differential spectra of $y$ or $p_T$ for beam momentum of 40 GeV/c. The corresponding total $\phi$ yields per inelastic p+p event are obtained. These results are compared with existing data on $\phi$ meson production in p+p collisions. The comparison shows consistency but superior accuracy of the present measurements. The emission of $\phi$ mesons in p+p reactions is confronted with that occurring in Pb+Pb collisions, and the experimental results are compared with model predictions. It appears that none of the considered models can properly describe all the experimental observables.