The elastic scattering of 3.55 GeV/ c π + and π − mesons by protons was measured at centre-of-mass angles between 165° and 177°. The angular distributions for 864 events show a steeply rising backward peak for π + p, while the shape is less clear for π − p.

Backward elastic scattering has been measured for π + p at 2.85 and 3.30 GeV/ c and for π − p at 3.30 GeV/ c . The π + p angular distributions show steep backward peaks, whereas the π − p distribution is flatter. At 2.85 GeV/ c the π + p differential cross section close to 180° is more than twice that at 3.30 GeV/ c , supporting the assignment J P = 11 2 + for Δ δ (2420) resonance. The π + p data at 2.85 GeV/ c indicate the onset of a dip at cos θ c.m. ≈ −0.97.

The energy dependence of the K−-nucleon total cross sections has been measured over the K− momentum range 0.98-3.98 Bev/c. K−−n cross sections were obtained by deuterium-hydrogen subtraction, with a correction for screening effects. There is evidence for structure in the T=0 K−-nucleon state in the momentum range 0.98-2.0 Bev/c. This structure is absent in the T=1 state. In addition, a measurement was made at 1.95 Bev/c of the angular distribution of the K−−p elastic scattering at small angles. The forward-scattering amplitude obtained from the data gives a ratio of real part to imaginary part 0.5±0.2 at 00. The corresponding ratio for π− mesons at this momentum was found to be 0.4−0.4+0.2. Measurements of the K−−p "elastic" charge exchange gives a cross section which falls from about 10 mb at 1 Bev/c to at most a few mb at 4 Bev/c.

Excitation functions of proton-proton elastic scattering cross sections have been measured in narrow steps for projectile momenta pp (energies Tp) from 1100 to 3300MeV/c (500 to 2500 MeV) in the angular range 35°≤Θc.m.≤90° with a detector providing ΔΘc.m.≈1.4° resolution. Measurements have been performed continuously during projectile acceleration in the cooler synchrotron COSY with an internal CH2 fiber target, taking particular care to monitor luminosity as a function of Tp. The advantages of this experimental technique are demonstrated, and the excitation functions obtained are compared to existing cross section data. No evidence for narrow structures was found.

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.

The differential cross-section for elastic scattering π−+p has been determined on the basis of 1 421 events observed in a propane bubble chamber. The angular distribution presents a backward bump (θ>90°) of (31.5±1.3)%. The amplitude at 0° obtained extrapolating the angular distribution by means of a least squares fit is compared with the value obtained from the dispersion relations and the optical theorem. New values of the pion proton cross-sections were taken into account for the dispersion relation integrals. Using the same best fit of the angular distribution a value for the interaction radius is obtained from considerations based on the diffraction scattering part.

We have measured the cross section at 180° for K + p and K + n elastic scattering in the momentum range 1.0 to 1.5 GeV/ c . The K + n cross section was measured on deuterium and the K + p on hydrogen and deuterium. We were thus able to measure directly the difference between free nucleon (proton) scattering and bound nucleon (proton) scattering at large angles. This difference was found to be small and within our experimental accuracy the K + p(n) cross section should be equal to the K + p (free) cross section at 180°. We found no evidence for an s -channel resonance Z ∗ in either the K + p or K + n system. A comparison of our data and those of other groups with theoretical predictions is given.

The c.m. angular distribution of π+p elastic scattering at 1.6 GeV/c shows a strong forward diffraction peak decreasing exponentially with a slopeA + = (6.9±0.5) GeV−2 comparable to thatA − = (7.2±0.5) GeV−2 observed in a previous experiment for π-p elastic scattering at the same incident momentum. The behaviour of the π+ and the π− angular distributions is quite different beyond the diffraction peak. The π+p total elastic cross-section is found to be Σ01 = (16.70±0.45) mb.

The reaction π−+p→π−+p has been studied in the 15-in. bubble chamber at the Princeton-Pennsylvania Accelerator. The elastic scattering cross section was determined to be 8.5 ± 0.2 mb. The forward peak fits to an exponential in t with a slope of 8.1 ± 0.2 (GeV/c)−2. The forward differential cross section dσdΩ(0)=17.9±0.7 mb/sr. A fit of the center-of-mass angular distribution to Legendre polynomials needed terms up to the 12th order, corresponding to the highest nonzero partial wave of L=6.

The differential cross section for π + p elastic scattering at 895, 945, 995 and 1040 MeV/ c has been measured in a hydrogen bubble chamber. The results are in good agreement with previous measurements using counter techniques except at extreme backward angles where significantly lower cross sections are obtained.

We have analyzed the two-prong final states in π+p interactions at 3.9 GeVc. Our result for elastic scattering is σ (elastic) = 6.50±0.1 mb (statistical error only). We find the elastic slope to be 6.61±0.14 (GeVc)−2. We find the elastic forward cross section to be 40.0±1.4 mb(GeVc)2. We have applied a longitudinal-momentum analysis to the one-pion-production channel. We find the cross section for the reaction π++p→π++π0+p to be 2.30±0.06 mb and that for π++p→π++π++n to be 1.45±0.05 mb. For resonance-production cross sections in these channels we find Δ(1236)=0.60±0.07 mb, ρ(760)=0.86±0.06 mb, and diffraction dissociation = 1.69±0.11 mb. We find that we can satisfactorily fit all distributions in the one-pion-production channel without assuming any phase-space production. In the missing-mass channel we observe dominant Δ++(1236) production plus evidence for A2+ production.

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.