Elastic scattering and coherent single pion production in proton-helium interactions at 18.6 GeV/c

Proton-helium elastic scattering and coherent single-pion production have been studied at 18.6 GeV/c in the four-momentum transfer region (?0.06, ?0.17) GeV/c². The elastic t-distribution has a somewhat steeper slope than is predicted by the Glauber approximation. The invariant-mass distribution of the Nπ system agrees with the double Regge-pole model except at about 1.65 GeV/c² where an enhancement presumably due to N¹ resonances is seen. The model also predicts the correct magnitude of the slope for nπ⁺α events. By using our cross sections at t′ = ?0.06 (GeV/c)² where the impulse approximation should be valid, the isospin-zero exchange elementary cross section for the nπ⁺ production is evaluated. The inelastic angular distributions are consistent with several spinparity states contributing at all Nπ masses.