Production of B(1235) and ρ(1710) mesons is observed in the four-pion decay modes π+π+π−π0 in 16−GeVc π±p collisions. Decay distributions and branching fractions into various modes are presented. Absence of the two-pion mode π−π0 for the ρ(1710) is noted.

Data from the reactions π−p→π−π−π+p and π+p→π+π+π−p have been obtained at 16 GeV/c in approximately equal samples from the BNL 80-in. hydrogen bubble chamber. We have studied both reactions for resonance production and compared our results with predictions of the one-pion-exchange model (OPEM) calculated by Wolf. The four-body longitudinal phase-space (LPS) plot suggested by Van Hove was used to analyze the data from both reactions. The events were separated according to distinct regions of the LPS plot in order to study the following classes of quasi-two-body final states: (1) diffractively produced three-pion states, (2) diffractively produced ππp states, (3) double-resonance production such as ρ0Δ++, (4) single-resonance production such as π−π−Δ++. The Van Hove analysis provided a much cleaner separation of resonances from background effects than the usual techniques. We observe production of the A1 and A2 mesons as well as the N*(1470) and N*(1700) isobars in the π+π−p system for both reactions. There is strong formation of the doubly resonant states ρ0Δ++ and f0Δ++ and the general features of the nondiffractive events are all in good agreement with one-pion exchange. Detailed comparisons between the data and the OPEM in each LPS plot region show that Van Hove analysis provides a sensitive test for the OPE model.

Inclusive e+e− production in 17-GeV/c π−p collisions has been measured. An excess of e+e− pairs over those from known sources for 0.1<~mee<~0.6 GeV and x<0.5 was found. No evidence is found for enhancements in specific final states involving electrons and photons or charged particles. The photon multiplicity associated with these pairs is measured.

Forty-seven charm events have been observed in an exposure of the SLAC Hybrid Facility bubble chamber to a 20-GeV backward-scattered laser beam. Thirty-seven events survive all the necessary cuts imposed. Based on this number the total charm cross section is calculated to be 63−28+33 nb.

We have studied inclusive production of KS0, Λ, and Λ¯ particles in 20-GeV γp interactions and have found features similar to those observed in both hadronic and leptonic interactions. The production cross sections, charged-particle multiplicities, and average Λ polarization are reported. Inclusive distributions of x and pT are shown and discussed in terms of quark fragmentation models. Production cross sections for K*(890) and Σ*(1385) are also reported.

Sixty-two charm events have been observed in an exposure of the SLAC Hybrid Facility toa backward sacttered laser beam. Based on 22 neutral and 21 charged decays we have measured the charmed-meson lifetimes to be τD0=(6.8−1.8+2.3)×10−13 sec, τD±=(7.4−2.0+2.3)×10−13 sec and their ratio τD±τD0=1.1−0.3+0.6. The inclusive charm cross section at a photon energy of 20 GeV has been measured to be 56−23+24 nb. Evidence is presented for a non-DD¯ component to charm production, consistent with (35±20)% Λc+ production and some D*± production. We have found no unambiguous F decays.

We have observed the π+π− decay of the ρ′(1600) in the production reaction γp→ρ′p at 20 GeV. Using a calculation which takes into account the interference of the ρ′ with the ρ(770) and a Drell background, we find good evidence that this resonance is a radial excitation of the ρ(770). The background interference strongly distorts the angular distributions predicted by a purely s-channel helicity-conserving production mechanism. We measure m0=(1.55±0.07) GeV/c2 and Γ0=(0.28−0.08+0.03) GeV/c2.

The reaction γp→ρfast0pπ+π− has been studied with the linearly polarized 20-GeV monochromatic photon beam at the SLAC Hybrid Facility to test the prediction of s-channel helicity conservation in inelastic diffraction for t’<0.4 (GeV/c)2. In a sample of 1934 events from this reaction, the ρ0 decay-angular distributions and spin-density-matrix elements are consistent with s-channel helicity conservation, the π+π− mass shape displays the same skewing as seen in the reaction γp→pπ+π−, and the pπ+π− mass distribution compares well and scales according to the vector dominance model with that produced in π±p→πfast±pπ+π−.

Cross sections are presented for the inclusive photoproduction of KS0, Λ, Λ¯, Ξ−, Ξ¯−, Σ0, and Σ*±(1385) at 20 GeV. An upper limit to Ω− production is also given. The data come from 284 000 hadronic events photoproduced in the SLAC 1-m hydrogen-bubble-chamber hybrid facility exposed to a nearly monochromatic, polarized 20-GeV backscattered photon beam. A comparison of the KS0, Λ, Λ¯, and Ξ− rates per inelastic event to π±p data show that γp rates are consistent with being higher than the π±p rates, providing evidence of an ss¯ component of the photon. The pair cross sections for KS0KS0, KS0Λ, KSoΛ¯, and ΛΛ¯ are presented. The xF distributions of the Λ, Λ¯, and Ξ− are compared to a quark-diquark fusion model, giving information on strange-baryon photoproduction mechanisms.

Seventy-one events containing charmed-particle decays have been observed in an experiment using the SLAC Hybrid Facility exposed to a backward-scattered photon beam. Several improvements were made to the apparatus since the previous experiment on charm photoproduction. Results for the charmed-meson lifetimes are consistent with the published results from the previous experiment and the two data samples have been combined yielding a total sample of 136 charm events. After imposing rigorous cuts, 50 neutral, 48 charged, and 2 charged/neutral ambiguous decays remain. From these, the charmed-meson lifetimes are measured to be &=(8.6±1.3−0.3+0 .7)×10−13 sec, &=(6.1±0.9±0.3)×10 −13 sec, and their ratio &=1.4±0.3− 0.1+0.2. The total charm cross section at a photon energy of 20 GeV has been measured to be (62±8−10+15) nb. There is evidence for both DD¯X and D¯Λc+X production with σD¯Λc+X/σcharm=(71± 11±6)%.