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.
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.
The results presented in this paper were obtained from a 105 000 frame exposure of the FNAL Hybrid Proportional Wire Chamber-30 inch Bubble Chamber System, in a tagged beam of 147 GeV/ c negative particles. Elastic, total and topological cross sections were obtained for both π − p and K − p interactions. Comparisons with other data, taken with various beam particles over large momentum intervals, show good agreement with KNO scaling, and similarity in the scaling behavior of σ n for the different beam particles.
The production of KS, Λ, Λ¯, and γ in π−p collisions at 147 GeV/c is analyzed. Cross sections, rapidity, Feynman-x, and pT2 distributions are presented and compared to charged-particle production. The energy dependence of multiplicities in π−p and pp collisions is shown. A new scaling form for the correlation of neutral- and charged-particle multiplicities is presented for compilations of πp and pp data.
The experimentally determined average charged-particle multiplicities, 〈nX〉, of the systems, X, produced in the following reactions for 147 GeV/c incident pion momentum are presented as functions of the square of the invariant mass of X, MX2, and of |t|:π−p→πfast−X, π−p→pX, π−p→Δ++X, π−p→(π−π+)ρ0X, and π−p→Λ0X. Details of the analysis are discussed. These data can be fit by the expression 〈nX〉=A+B ln MX2+C|t| and the coefficients obtained for B are equal within their uncertainties. C is significantly different from zero only for π−p→πfast−X. These results and 〈nX〉 data from other inclusive and total-inelastic-reaction studies are discussed in terms of a simple model which assumes contributions to 〈nX〉 from the target-fragmentation, the central, and the beam-fragmentation regions in the case of total-inelastic reactions. For inclusive reactions, either the beam or target fragmentation is replaced by an exchange-particle-fragmentation contribution. The s, t, and MX2 dependence of the parameters of the model are deduced from triple-Regge considerations. The data are found to be consistent with the model and values are presented for the parameters.