Coherent production of multimeson final states on A ∼ 20 nuclei by K− of 5.5, 10.0, 12.7 GeV

Coherent production of $\text{K}\text{π,}\text{K}\text{2π}\text{and}\text{K}\text{3π}$ final states from A ～ 20 nuclei by K^? beams of 5.5, 10.0 and 12.7 GeV is analyzed. Final states with ? 2π^O are included. Coherent $\text{K}\text{π}$ production occurs (although forbidden via 0⁺ exchange) and is dominated by the $\text{K}$¹ (890). The shape of the t distribution, the alignment of the produced meson and the ratio of the cross section on nuclei to that on hydrogen are consistent with optical model predictions assuming that $\text{K}$¹ (890) are produced on single nucleons by exchange of isoscalar trajectories of natural parity (J^P = 1^?, 2⁺, etc.) and that the $\text{K}$¹ (890) absorption in nuclear matter equals that of the K^?. Coherent $\text{K}\text{ππ}$ production (allowed via 0⁺, 1^?, 2⁺, etc. exchange) is dominated by the Q phenomenon. A Dalitz plot and angular correlation analysis yields values for $\text{K}\text{?/}\text{K}{}^1\text{π}$ fractions, and shows that $\text{J}{}^{\mathrm{P}}\text{= 1}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{S-wave}\text{K}{}^1\text{π}$ dominates the coherently produced Q. The helicity of the Q is found to be compatible with 0. The Q^? -nucleaon total cross section is estimated to be 0.98_?0.37⁺⁰²⁴ times the $\text{K}$^? -nucleon total cross section from a comparison of the coherent Q-production cross section with corresponding hydrogen cross sections at 10 and 12.7 GeV. We observe coherent production of $\text{K}$ω. The ration $\text{K}\text{ω/}\text{K}\text{ππ}$ coherently produced in the Q mass region is (4 ± 1)%. Coherent production of $\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{π}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{π}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{and}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>O</mtext>}}\text{π}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{π}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{π}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>O</mtext>}}$ is observed in the L region. Coherent production is not observed in the K4π channels.