The contradiction of the σ term of pion-nucleon scattering as deduced from the Karlsruhe-Helsinki phase shifts with the smaller value calculated by the chiral perturbation theory of QCD is well known. In an effort to clarify the discrepancy we have determined the real part of the isospin-even forward-scattering amplitude of pion-nucleon scattering at a pion energy Tπ=54.3 MeV by measurement of the elastic scattering of positive and negative pions on protons in the Coulomb-nuclear interference region. The deduced value is in agreement with the prediction of the Karlsruhe-Helsinki phase-shift analysis for that energy. The resulting large value of the σ term may be interpreted as being due to the influence of s¯s sea pairs even at large distances (small Q2) as previously suggested by the European Muon Collaboration measurement of deep-inelastic scattering of polarized muons on polarized protons.

The real part of the isospin-even forward-scattering amplitude of pion-nucleon scattering has been determined at a pion energy of Tπ=55 MeV by measurement of the elastic scattering of positive and negative pions on protons within the Coulomb-nuclear interference region. The value confirms the prediction of the Karlsruhe-Helsinki phase-shift analysis for that energy. These phases have been used to determine the σ term of pion-nucleon scattering by means of dispersion relations, resulting in a value for σ which is in contradiction with chiral perturbation theory of QCD.

The final state K − pn has been analyzed in a K − deuterium bubble chamber experiment at K − momenta between 680 and 840 MeV/ c . Differential cross sections for elastic K − p and K − n scattering in the c.m. energy range of 1.60–1.74 GeV are presented. The results for K − p→K − p agree well with existing data obtained with hydrogen targets. The results for K − n→K − n are lower but still compatible with recent measurements from a counter experiment.

Measurements of complete angular distributions of elastic K + p scattering at closely spaced incident momenta from 1368 to 2259 MeV/ c are presented and discussed. A PDP-8 computer controlled system of scintillation counters and core-readout wire spark chambers was used for the detection of elastic events. Diffractive behaviour is already present at the lowest measured momentum and becomes more prominent as the incident momentum increases. An expansion of the angular distributions in terms of Legendre polynomials shows no marked structure of the expansion coefficients as functions of the incident momentum. Our measurements can be adequately described by a number of existing phase shift solutions within 5% of their published values. Also Regge pole extrapolations represent our data satisfactorily.

Total and differential elastic cross-section data are presented at eight incident π+ momenta: 1.28, 1.34, 1.40, 1.43, 1.55, 1.68, 1.77, and 1.84 GeVc. These data were obtained from a hydrogen-bubble-chamber exposure at the Bevatron, and contain more than 65 000 events. This represents more than 1½ times the world's data hitherto available in this energy region.

Report on the investigation of interactions in π−p collisions at a pion momentum of 1.59 GeV/c, by means of the 50 cm Saclay liquid hydrogen bubble chamber, operating in a magnetic field of 17.5 kG. The results obtained concern essentially the elastic scattering and the inelastic scattering accompanied by the production of either a single pion in π−p→ pπ−π0 and nπ−π+ interactions, or by more than one pion in four-prong events. The observed angular distribution for the elastic scattering in the diffraction region, can be approximated by an exponential law. From the extrapolated value, thus obtained for the forward scattering, one gets σel= (9.65±0.30) mb. Effective mass spectra of π−π0 and π−π+ dipions are given in case of one-pion production. Each of them exhibits the corresponding ρ− or ρ0 resonances in the region of ∼ 29μ2 (μ = mass of the charged pion). The ρ peaks are particularly conspicuous for low momentum transfer (Δ2) events. The ρ0 distribution presents a secondary peak at ∼31μ2 due probably to the ω0 → π−π+ process. The branching ratio (ω0→ π+π−)/(ω0→ π+π− 0) is estimated to be ∼ 7%. The results are fairly well interpreted in the frame of the peripheral interaction according to the one-pion exchange (OPE) model, Up to values of Δ2/μ2∼10. In particular, the ratio ρ−/ρ0 is of the order of 0.5, as predicted by this model. Furthermore, the distribution of the Treiman-Yang angle is compatible with an isotropic one inside the ρ. peak. The distribution of\(\sigma _{\pi ^ + \pi ^ - } \), as calculated by the use of the Chew-Low formula assumed to be valid in the physical region of Δ2, gives a maximum which is appreciably lower than the value of\(12\pi \tilde \lambda ^2 = 120 mb\) expected for a resonant elastic ππ scattering in a J=1 state at the peak of the ρ. However, a correcting factor to the Chew-Low formula, introduced by Selleri, gives a fairly good agreement with the expected value. Another distribution, namely the Δ2 distribution, at least for Δ2 < 10 μ2, agrees quite well with the peripheral character of the interaction involving the ρ resonance. π− angular distributions in the rest frame of the ρ exhibit a different behaviour for the ρ− and for the ρ0. Whereas the first one is symmetrical, as was already reported in a previous paper, the latter shows a clear forward π− asymmetry. The main features of the four-prong results are: 1) the occurrence of the 3/2 3/2 (ρπ+) isobar in π−p → pπ+π−π− events and 2) the possible production of the ω0→ π+π−π0 resonance in π−p→ pπ−π+π−π0 events. No ρ’s were observed in four-prong events.

K − p reactions have been studied at 13 different incident momenta between 1138 and 1434 MeV/ c . This interval corresponds to a mass of the K − p system varying from 1858 to 1993 MeV. About 300 000 photographs were taken in the 81 cm Saclay hydrogen bubble chamber exposed to a separated K − beam at the CERN proton-synchrotron. A total of about 44 000 events were analyzed, from which partial and differential cross sections were determined. Polarizations were obtained for the two-body reactions where the decay of the Λ or Σ hyperon allowed their measurement. Data for the two-body channels are presented here as well as for the main quasi-two-body reactions.

Data are presented from a high statistics bubble chamber experiment to K − p interactions over the c.m. energy range 1720 to 1796 MeV. Channel cross sections, differential cross sections and, where appropriate, polarisation distributions have been obtained for the final states K − p , K 0 n , π 0 Λ and π ± Σ ∓ . These data are compared with those from previously published experiments and with the predictions from the RL-IC 77 partial-wave amplitudes for each of these channels.

Differential cross sections for the elastic scattering of K + mesons on protons have been measured at 12 lab momenta between 130 and 755 MeV/ c using a hydrogen filled bubble chamber. The results are consistent with a repulsive S-wave nuclear force. A phase-shift analysis yielded the following values of the low-energy parameters: a S 1 2 =(0.309±0.002) fm , r S 1 2 =(0.032±0.02) fm a P 1 2 =(0.021±0.002) fm , a P 3 2 =(0.013±0.001) fm 3

The elastic differential cross section for the scattering of negative pions by hydrogen was measured at laboratory-system pion kinetic energies of 230, 290, 370, and 427 Mev. The elastically scattered pions were detected by a counter telescope which discriminated against recoil protons and inelastic pions on the basis of range. Differential cross sections were obtained at nine angles for each energy and were fitted by a least-squares program to a series of Legendre polynomials. At the three higher energies, D waves are required to give satisfactory fits to the data. The real parts of the forward-scattering amplitudes calculated from this experiment are in agreement with the predictions of dispersion theory. The results of this experiment, in conjunction with data from other pion-nucleon scattering experiments, support the hypothesis of charge independence at these higher energies.