Measurements of the differential cross section for the inclusive production of high-energy π0's are reported for the reactions π±p→π0X at a laboratory momentum of 14 GeV/c. The kinematic range covered, in terms of the Feynman scaling variable x and the transverse momentum P⊥, is 0.25≤x≤1.0 and 0≤P⊥≤0.7 GeV/c. Two spectrometers, both employing large NaI(Tl) crystals, are used to detect the π0's and to identify them with a mass resolution of 17 MeV (full width at half maximum). The results are in accord with the hypothesis of limiting fragmentation, which regards the measured reactions, in the kinematic range covered, as examples of disfavored fragmentation.
We report on a study of inclusiveπ0 and η meson production inπ+p andK+p interactions at 250 GeV/c beam momentum. The Feynman-x spectrum ofπ0 is very similar in shape and normalization to that of negatively charged particles produced in the same experiment. The results are compared with data at other energies and with FRITIOF model predictions. This model overestimates the η cross section by a factor of 2.5. It reproduces theπ0 cross section correctly, but predicts a too hardπ0x distribution.
Measurements are reported of inclusive production of π0-mesons in the beam fragmentation region in γp, πp andKp collisions. Results include the ratio of π0 production inKp and πp collisions, showing reduced production from fragmentation of theK-meson, and the ratio of π0 production in photon and hadron collisions which shows agreement with modified Vector Meson Dominance at lowPT, and departures at higherPT signalling the onset of direct photon reactions. The pattern of departure from Feynman scaling at highPT points to a contribution of hard parton-parton collisions in both γp and πp collisions.
We present data on π0 and η inclusive production from 100-GeV/c π±p collisions in the kinematic region x>~0.7 and 0<−t≲4 (GeV/c)2. The results are in excellent agreement with the predictions of triple-Regge theory and we have extracted the ρ and A2 trajectories out to −t=4 (GeV/c)2.
Cross sections for inclusive π0 production at large transverse momentum pT were measured in π−p, π+p, and pp collisions at 300 GeV/c. The cross-section ratio σ(π−p→π0X)/σ(π+p→π0X) was found to be consistent with unity in the pT region of 1 to 5 GeV/c. The cross-section ratio σ(π+p→π0X)/σ(pp→π0X) however is growing with increasing pT and increasing π0 c.m.-system rapidity in agreement with parton-model expectations, where the partons in the pions have on average higher momenta than in the proton.