Approximately 60 000 events have been collected in a spark chamber experiment at the CERN Proton Synchrotron which studied elastic diffraction scattering of π--p and p-p at incident momenta of 8.5, 12.4 and 18.4 GeV/c and of π+-p at 8.5 and 12.4 GeV/c. Magnetic analysis of the incoming and diffraction scattered particle, together with measurement of all angles, permitted each event to be determined as elastic subject to three constraints, so that the inelastic background was rejected with. high efficiency, even at the larger momentum, transfers. Much of the data have been processed by the CERN Automatic Flying-Spot DigitizerHPD. A detailed description of the experimental technique and of the methods of analysis is given. The results, together with data from lower energies, confirm the remarkable energy-independence of the shape of the pion-proton diffraction scattering peak up to |t| = 1.5 (GeV/c)2, wheret is the square of the four-momentum transfer, over a range of pion energies from 2 to 18 GeV. Proton-proton scattering does however appear to show a shrinking diffraction peak. In general, the data agree with other experiments using both counter and bubble chamber techniques, but some differences do appear. During the experiment, data were taken which set an upper limit of 2·102 μb/(GeV/c)2 on the differential elastic cross-section dσ/dt over a range of |t| from 20.9 to 23.4 (GeV/c)2 at 13.4 GeV/c incident pion momentum.

Interactions initiated by 3-Bev protons of the Brookhaven Cosmotron were studied by photoemulsion technique. With appropriate criteria, 115 events are attributed to interactions of the incident beam protons with hydrogen nuclei (∼55%) and with bound protons of other nuclei (∼45%). A detailed analysis allowed the subdivision of the 115 events in categories, according to the number of π mesons (N>~0) produced in the collision. The ratio of elastic scattering to the total number of events was estimated to be σelσtotal=0.20−0.07+0.04. The observed cross section for pure elastic scattering is σel=8.9±1.0 mb. The percentages of single, double, triple, and quadruple π-meson production are respectively: 34−20+22; 35.6−23+20; 9.6−4+6; ∼1.0+3.5. Among the 20 most probable cases of single π-meson production—the estimated ratio of π+ to π0 is σπ+σπ0=5.3−1.4+0.3. The experimental results are not in agreement with the Fermi statistical-model theory (in particular the lower limit for the experimental ratio of triple to single production is given by σ3σ1>∼110 in contrast with the predicted ratio σ3σ1=167) but are not inconsistent with the Peaslee excited-state-model theory.

Analyses have been made for 871 four-prong events and 463 two-prong events corresponding to multiple pion production, resulting from p−p interactions at 2 Bev in the BNL 20-in. hydrogen bubble chamber. Cross sections have been obtained for all the observable double and triple pion production processes; the branching ratios predicted by the extended isobar model are shown to be in fair agreement with the data, but there are significant differences. The c.m. momentum distributions are also in fair agreement with the predictions of the model, although there are ambiguities in the interpretation. The pion-nucleon Q values give clear evidence for the importance of the (32, 32) resonant state in multiple pion production, but consideration of this state alone does not provide an explanation of the features of double pion production. Some contribution from another state, possibly the I=12 nucleon isobar, is necessary. In double production, the c.m. angular distributions of the nucleons show backward-forward peaking suggestive of a one-pion exchange process. The angular distributions of the nucleons from triple production are almost isotropic.

3600 two-pronged events, obtained in p−p interactions at 2 Bev in the BNL 20-in. hydrogen bubble chamber, have been analyzed. Cross sections have been measured for elastic scattering, for the two modes of single-pion production, p+p→p+n+π+, p+p→p+p+π0, and for strange-particle production. The branching ratio for the two one-pion production reactions is σ(pnπ+)σ(ppπ0)=4.17±0.25. Momentum distributions and Q values indicate that single-pion production proceeds almost entirely through the (32, 32) resonant state. The data have been considered in terms of the extended isobar model and also a one-pion exchange model for production. The branching ratio and momentum distributions can be explained by including a small effect from the I=12 resonant state in addition to the dominant I=32 resonance. The c.m. angular distribution of the nucleons in single-pion production shows very marked backward-forward peaking indicating a one-pion exchange mechanism. Absolute differential cross sections as a function of laboratory kinetic energy have been calculated from Selleri's equation for the pnπ+ reaction. There is good agreement with the data for low four-momentum transfers [q2<0.15(Bev/c)2], but for higher momentum transfers the theoretical cross sections are larger than the experimental cross sections.

In an exposure of the 30-in. hydrogen bubble chamber to a 303−GeVc proton beam, 2245 interactions have been observed. The measured total cross section is 39.0±1.0 mb and the average charged particle multiplicity 〈nch〉=8.86±0.16.

The charged-particle multiplicity distribution in 205−GeVc proton-proton interactions is presented. In addition, the total diffractive contributions to each charged multiplicity are estimated assuming a factorizable Pomeron.

About 10 000 two-prong events of 8.1 GeV/ c proton-proton interactions in the CERN 2 m. bubble chamber have been analyzed. We study elastic scattering and single-pion production reactions. We give cross sections for isobar production. We attempt to interpret the general features of the pp→pn π + reaction by the Deck mechanism. We compare the production and the decay of δ ++ (1236) with absorption or π Regge trajectory exchange models.

The total elastic p-p, p-d and p-n cross sections measured at the Serpukhov accelerator and Dubna synchrophasotron are presented in this paper.

The total cross sections σT of p, p¯, π±, and K± on hydrogen and deuterium have been measured between 6 and 22 GeVc at intervals of 2GeVc to an accuracy greater than previously reported. The method utilized was a conventional good-geometry transmission experiment with scintillation counters subtending various solid angles at targets of liquid H2 and D2. With the increase in statistical accuracy of the data, it was found that a previously adopted procedure of linearly extrapolating to zero solid angle the partial cross sections measured at finite solid angles was not a sufficiently accurate procedure from which to deduce σT. The particle-neutron cross sections are derived by applying the Glauber screening correction to the difference between the particle-deuteron and particle-proton cross sections. The cross sections σT(π+d) and σT(π−d) are equal at all measured momenta, which confirms the validity of charge symmetry up to 20GeVc. Results are presented showing the variation of cross sections with momentum; evidence is presented for a small but significant decrease in σT(pp) [and σT(pn)] in the momentum region above 12GeVc.

The Fermilab hybrid 30-in. bubble-chamber spectrometer was exposed to a tagged 147-GeV/c positive beam containing π+, K+, and p. A sample of 3003 K+p, 19410 pp, and 20745 π+p interactions is used to derive σn, 〈n〉, f2cc, and 〈nc〉D for each beam particle. These values are compared to values obtained at other, mostly lower, beam momenta. The overall dependence of 〈n〉 on Ea, the available center-of-mass energy, for these three reactions as well as π−p and pp interactions has been determined.