Three- and four-body final states with strange particles are studied in π + p and π − p interactions at 16 GeV/ c . We present cross sections and investigate their energy dependence. Production mechanism, resonance production and quantum number transfer are discussed. Strong Y ∗ (1385) production is found in the reaction π + p → Λ K + π + , while the corresponding π − p reaction is dominated by production of K ∗ (890). In the NK K π channels, the K and K are produced mainly at the same vertex, i.e. non-strangeness exchange ΔS = 0 is dominant (about 75% of the cases), whereas in the Λ K ππ channels, the Λ and K are more frequently produced at opposite vertices, i.e. | ΔS | = 1 exchange is important (about 60% of the cases). Results on the polarization of the lambdas produced in the π + p reactions are given.

A study of the reaction π + p → p π + π o at 16 GeV/ c incident momentum has been made using the prism plot analysis to reject background events arising from elastic and multineutral contaminations and to separate different reaction channels ( ϱ + p, g + p, Δ + π + , Δ ++ π o , π + (p π o ) DD ). Cross sections, invariant mass distributions and production and decay angular distributions are presented. For the channel corresponding to proton diffraction dissociation strong violation of both s - and t -channel helicity conservation is found for low values of the (p π o ) mass. We demonstrate that the prism plot method provides a better separation of background events than conventional methods using kinematic cuts.

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The A 2 meson is studied in the decay mode ϱ 0 π − using partial wave analyses of 600 000 events from the reaction π − p→ π − π − π + p at 63 and 94 GeV incident momentum. Common production mechanisms are indicated for this resonance and diffractive 1 + and 2 − components.

We present an analysis of theKs0Ks0 system produced in the reaction π−p→Ks0Ks0n at 63 GeV based on ∼700 events in the kinematical region of |t|<0.5 GeV2. We concentrate on masses between 1,200 and 1,600 MeV where a double maximum structure is observed. Performing an amplitude analysis in this mass interval we find thatS,D0 andD+ waves contribute to the mass spectrum at approximately equal strength. The peaks are attributed to spin 2 waves. However, we failed to explained them by interferingf(1270),A2(1310) andf′(1520) resonances alone. While the first peak can be associated withf(1270)−A2(1310) production, an additional tensor meson is needed with mass of ∼1410 MeV and a narrow width for a description of the second one. The analysis as well as the energy dependence deduced from some publishedKs0Ks0 mass spectra suggests this object to be dominantly produced by a natural parity exchange. Because the 2++\(q\bar q\) nonet is already complete the nature of the new tensor meson is an open question.

We present single inclusive π±, π0 andK± spectra in the forward fragmentation region (x>0.2,pT<1.5 GeV/c) as well as correlations between two charged particles. The data were recorded in an unseparated negative hadron beam at the CERN SPS using a large acceptance forward spectrometer. Our maasurements are compared in detail with several models which emphasise the role of the beam valence quarks in this production process. The connection to measurements at largepT is also investigated.

Diffractive production of the 3 π system has been studied at 63 and 94 GeV using a two magnet spectrometer with high, uniform acceptance. The total number of events used in the analysis is ∼600 000. The A 2 meson is shown to be diffractively produced. The existence of a resonant component in both the 1 + and 2 − enhancements is established and resonance parameters for the corresponding A 1 and A 3 mesons are given. There are several indications in the data of states which would correspond to radial excitations in the quark model.

The inclusive reactions h+p→ φ +X, (h= π ±, ,K ± ,p ± ), are studied for 0⪅ x F ⪅0.3 and p ⊥ ⩽ 1 GeV at 93 and and 63 GeV incident momentum. Differential cross sections d σ /d p ⊥ 2 and dσ /d x F are presented and are compared with predictions of the naive parton model.

The reactions π + p → π + ( K + K + K − K − ) p and pp → p ( K + K + K − K − ) p in which the K + K + K − K − system is centrally produced have been studied at 85 GeV c . Evidence is found for φφ production. The relative rates for production of φφ , φK + K − and K + K + K − K − have been determined.

The reaction π − p → K + K − π − p at 16 GeV/ c was studied in the CERN OMEGA spectrometer and a partial-wave analysis (PWA) of the low-mass (K + K − π − ) system (1.3–2.0 GeV) was performed. Only states in the unnatural spin-parity series produced by natural parity exchange are important and they approximately conserve t -channel helicity. The 1 + S K ∗ K wave dominates the low-mass (K + K − π − ) region. We observe an enhancement in 2 − P K ∗ K wave at a mass of 1.7 GeV, consistent with the decay of the A 3 resonance.

The reaction π − p → φφ n has been isolated at 16 GeV/ c and its cross section determined to be 40 ± 10 nb. The φφ mass spectrum shows a threshold enhancement between 2.1 and 2.5 GeV. A successful description of the angular content of the φφ system requires two interferingss J P = 2 + states.

The dominant partial waves of the diffractively produced N π system at low Nπ masses (⩽ 1.4 GeV) are determined in the reactions π ± p → π (N π ) at 16 GeV/ c . A satisfactory description of our data can only be obtained by strong contributions of both a 1 2 − S-wave and a 3 2 + P-wave, violating the Gribov-Morrison rule. Spin and parity of the diffractively produced states are found from the interference between diffraction and Δ (1236) production. The interference term is obtained by an isospin analysis.

The reaction π + p→ ωΔ ++ (1236) is studied at 16 GeV/ c . Cross section, differential cross section, single and joint spin-density matrix elements are given and the correlations between the ε and Δ ++ (1236) decay angular distributions are investigated. Natural and unnatural spin-parity exchanges contribute to this reaction in roughly equal amounts. Natural exchanges lead predominantly to Δ ++ (1236) with helicity ± 3 2 , while unnatural exchanges lead predominantly to Δ ++ (1236) with helicity ± 1 2 and to ε with helicity zero. Furthermore, unnatural exchanges are small at t ′≅0.2 GeV 2 compared to other t ′ values, which may be due to the nonsense wrong-signature-zero of the B-meson exchange. Quark model relations are found to be satisfied by the data.

The reaction π + p → ϱ 0 Δ ++ (1236) at 16 GeV/ c has been studied. Cross section, differential cross section, single and joint spin-density matrix elements are given. Correlations between the ϱ 0 and Δ ++ (1236) decay distributions are observed. Unnatural spin-parity exchanges, mainly observed at small t ' values, dominate the ϱ 0 Δ ++ (1236) production. The natural exchange contributions are only (7 ± 2)% and become as important as the unnatural exchanges beyond t ' = 0.3 GeV 2 . Contributions to Δ ++ (1236) helicity 3 2 states do not exceed 20% of the total ϱ 0 Δ ++ (1236) cross section and are mainly due to unnatural exchanges.

A prism plot analysis of the reaction π − p→p π + π − π − at 16 GeV/ c has been made and the results are compared with those obtained in a similar analysis of the reaction π + p→ p π + π + π − at the same energy. The three dominating reaction mechanisms (pion dissociation, reggeon exchange, proton diffraction dissociation) appear to be well separated, while considerable residual overlaps are present inside these classes. The prism plot method is discussed as a means for detecting hidden structures and some evidence is presented for a broad three-pion enhancement around 2 GeV decaying primarily into ϱ 0 π − .

The production of ρ 0 (770) and f(1270) is studied in π − p interactions at 16 GeV/ c . By comparison with inclusive K ∗0 production in the reaction K − p → K ∗0 + anything, and with inclusive ρ 0 production in the reaction pp → ρ 0 + anything, it is found that the data can be interpreted in terms of two production processes: the central production of resonances and the fragmentation of the beam particle. For the π − p reaction, the inclusive ρ 0 beam fragmentation cross section is 3.1 ± 0.3 mb while that for central production is 1.6 ± 0.5 mb. The ρ 0 central production cross section is consistent with increasing with energy as ln s behaviour. The ratio of ρ 0 to π − inclusive cross sections (excluding the leading π − ) is ∼0.2, independent of energy. The ρ 0 to π − ratio increases as a function of p T to a constant value of ∼ 1 2 above 1 GeV/ c . The ρ (charged and neutral) and f decays account for (25 ± 4)% and (1.4 ± 0.3)%, respectively, of all pions produced.

Cross-section values or upper limits are presented for twenty-five two-body hypercharge-exchange reactions in K − p and π + p interactions at 10 and 16 GeV/ c . The 16 GeV/ c results are compared with some predictions of line-reversal plus exchange-degenerate Regge poles, of SU(3) and of the additive quark model. Agreement is found in all cases.

The production of η(550) and ω(780) mesons is studied in π ± p interactions at 16 GeV/ c and K − p interactions at 10 and 16 GeV/ c . Cross sections for exclusive channels are presented, and for the π + p data differential cross sections are given for quasi-inclusive production where the η or ω is required to be accompanied by charged particles only. Close similarities are observed between η, ω and also ϱ 0 (770) production in terms of longitudinal and transverse variables. By a rough estimate, the η, ω and ϱ 0 inclusive yields are found to be in the ratio 0.32 : 0.85 : 1, respectively, for 16 GeV/ c π + p collisions. For non-peripheral production we estimate this same ratio to be 0.34 : 0.9 : 1.

It is found in the reactions π ± p →( π ± π + π − )p, believed to be dominated by diffraction dissociation, that the d σ d t′ distributions show a “cross-over” effect at t ′ ≈ 0.15, similar to the effect observed in elastic scattering. This gives evidence for the interference of ( ϱ 0 , B 0 ,…)-exchanges with ( P , f 0 , …) -exchanges in pion diffraction dissociation reactions. No such evidence is found for baryon dissociation, π ± p → π ± (p π + π − ), at the same energy.

By means of an isospin analysis of the reaction π ± p→ π (N π ) at 16 GeV/ c we have determined the decay angular distributions of the N π system with I= 1 2 produced by isospin zero exchange. Helicity conservation is not observed in the t -channel for the N π mass region below 1.6 GeV, where diffraction dissociation of the proton is supposed to dominate. There are indications for approximate t -channel helicity conservation for N ∗ (1690) production. In the helicity frame, the experimental data are not in agreement with s -channel helicity conservation over the whole N π mass range investigated. Thus the diffractive process N→N π differs both from the process N→N ππ (or π → πππ and K→K ππ ) which approximately conserves t -channel helicity and from the elastic scattering N→N which conserves helicity in the s -channel.

Cross sections for resonance production in the reactions π ± p → p π ± π + π − at 16 GeV/ c are determined by a maximum likelihood fit, making use of the measurements of all individual events. The reactions are described by a simple parametrization based on an incoherent superposition of amplitudes for quasi two-body and quasi three-body processes and a non-resonant backgroud. In this way the reflections are accounted for in a consistent way. Thus cross sections are obtained for Δ ++ , Δ 0 , ρ 0 and f 0 production which do not suffer from the uncertainties of background subtraction typical of the usual technique of fitting individual mass distributions.

A comparison is made of the properties and production mechanisms of the π + ω and K − ω systems produced in the reactions π + p → π + ω p at 4, 5, 8 and 16 GeV/ c and K − p → K − ω p at 10 and 16 GeV/ c . In the π + ω case apeak is observed at 1.23 GeV (the B meson), while the K − ω mass distribution has a threshold enhancement. The cross section of the low mass (<2.0 GeV) π + ω system falls as p lab −2 , while that of the low mass (<2.0 GeV) K − ω system is almost constant with energy, indicating diffractive production of the K − ω system, but not of the πω system. Using a modified version of the Illinois partial-wave analysis program, it is found that the K − ω system is dominantly produced in the J P = 1 + state with small contributions of 0 − and 2 + , mainly by natural parity exchange - as is found for reactions such as K − p → (K − π + π − )p which are predominantly diffractive. For the π + ω system in the B mass region, J P = 1 + states, produced mainly by natural parity exchange are found; the contributions of 0 − P, 1 − P, 2 − P and 2 + D are consistent with zero. The 1 + D state occurs in the π + ω case but not in the K − ω system, nor in the K ππ − system produced in the K − p → K ππ p reaction.

A comparison is made of the low-mass three-meson systems (πππ), (Kππ), (π K K ) and ( K K K ) diffractively produced in the reaction meson + proton → three mesons + proton. Several striking similarities and a few important differences are observed: (i) the reactions are consistent with the assumption that the three mesons decay entirely into a 0 − meson and a 0 + , 1 − or 2 + resonance; (ii) the three-meson mass spectra have a peak ≈ 250 MeV above the effective threshold M eff of the dominant decay mode and then fall off approximately as (mass) −3 ;(iii) the average spin 〈 J 〉 = 0.55 + 1.1 Q eff , where Q eff = M - M eff ; (iv) the average orbital angular momentum 〈 l 〉 increases according to 〈 l 〉 = 0.75 Q eff ; (v) the three-meson states are produced dominantly in unnatural spin-parity states and no evidence for their being resonant is found; (vi) the only natural spin-parity states found are the well-established 2 + resonances A 2 and K ∗ (1420); they have similar properties to the non-resonant unnatural parity states except for a dip at t = 0 in the dσ/d t distributions; (vii) both the unnatural and natural spin-parity states are produced mostly by an exchange of natural parity; (viii) there is evidence for two types of production mechanism with different polarization properties, one approximately conserving helicity in the t -channel and the other in the s -channel.

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A study is presented of the inclusive production cross sections of K ∗± (892) vector mesons in pp interactions at 12 and 24 GeV/ c and in π + p interactions at 16 GeV/ c . The K ∗± inclusive cross section is ∼0.9 mb for both pp at 24 GeV/ c and π + p interactions at 16 GeV/ c . For pp interactions, σ( K ∗+ ) and σ( K ∗− ) are seen to rise with energy, showing a threshold behaviour. In both pp and π + p interactions, σ( K ∗+ ) largely exceeds σ( K ∗− ) at these energies and this excess is interpreted as K ∗+ production by beam and target fragmentations. The decays of K ∗±0 yield ∼30% of the K 0 observed in the final states. The p T 2 dependence of both K ∗+ and K ∗ − cross sections is described by an exponential with slope of ∼3.3 (GeV/ c ) −2 . The longitudinal momentum spectra for K ∗+ in 16 GeV/ c π + p and 24 GeV/ c pp interactions are similar in shape in the target hemisphere. The K ∗− spectra are similar over the whole kinematic region when viewed in the quark c.m.s. and point to a central production mechanism. Comparing K ∗+ and ρ 0 production, striking similarities are found.