Using a secondary pion beam from the Argonne Zero Gradient Synchrotron we have studied the process π−p→φn in the region of the cross-section enhancement near kinematic threshold. For incident momenta between 1.6 and 2 GeV/c, we have determined production and decay angular distributions and extrapolated total cross sections from a sample of about 160 φ's above background. The production and decay distributions are consistent with isotropy over this entire incident-momentum range. The extrapolated total cross section varies between 19 and 25 μb.
This Letter reports measurements of the ratios of $\pi$, K, and p production at large values of transverse momentum in $\pi^- −p$ collisions. The charge ratios, such as $\frac {\pi^−} {\pi^+}$, $\frac {K^−} {K^+}$, and $\frac {\overline{p}}{p}$ are seen to be quite different from those measured in p −p collisions. These ratios are sensitive tests of hard-scattering models, and are compared with theoretical predictions. The particle ratios have also been studied as a function of center-of-mass angle ($\theta^*$) at $\theta^*$ = 90°, 77°, and 60°.