Four-pion final state in pp annihilations at 0.7 to 1.1 GeV/c

Results are reported on the reaction $\text{p}\text{p}\text{→ π}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{π}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{π}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{π}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$ at six lab momenta spanning the region from 0.686 to 1.098 GeV/c. The cross section for this process drops from 5.2 ± 0.4 mb at 0.686 GeV/c to 2.9 ± 0.2 mb at 1.098 GeV/c. Resonance production is determined by means of a model which includes Bose symmetrization and Breit-Wigner amplitudes. The likelihood fit to the resonance channels yields a few per cent ?ππ, approximately 10% in each of the channels fππ, ??, and A₂π, and about 40% ?f production, with errors on the order of 5%. Excellent fits to the mass distributions are obtained. Essentially all production and decay angular distributions are found to be uniform, with only a few small deviations from isotropy reported. The angular correlations between like and unlike charged pion pairs are also found to be fit extremely well by the simple model of resonance production with Bose symmetrization.     

Results on the production cross sections π−p → neutrals and π− p→ χ↳2γ0n at 3.8, 6, 8 and 12 GeV/c

The ratio between the cross sections for the reactions $\text{π}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{p→}\text{χ}\text{?}{}_{\mathrm{2\gamma }}{}^0\text{n}$ and π^?p → η_→2γ n has been measured to be (2.4 ± 0.9) × 10^?2, (2.1 ± 0.6) × 10^?2 and (2.8 ± 1.3) × 10^?2 at 3.8,6,8 and 12 GeV/c incident momentum respectively.At the same momenta the cross section for π^t- p → neutrals is (1.48 ± 0.09) mb, (0.86 ± 0.05) mb, (0.64 ± 0.04) mb and (0.42±0.03) mb.     

Inclusive strange particle production in π−p interactions at 6 GeV/c

The inclusive production of Λ, K_S⁰, Σ^±(1385) and $\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{1\pm }}\text{(892)}$ in π^?p interactions at 6 GeV/c has been studied. The observed cross sections are: σ(Λ)=0.94±0.06 mb, σ(K_S⁰)=0.98±0.06 mb, σ(Σ⁺(1385))=60±7 μb, σ(Σ^?(1385))=90±9 μb, $\text{σ(}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{1+}}\text{(892))=216±28 μ}\text{b and}\text{σ(}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{1?}}\text{(892))=41±8 μ}\text{b}$, respectively. The inclusive spectra of these particles are presented as functions of squared transverse momentum and Feynman scaling variable x. The polarization of Λ has also been investigated. It is found from a comparison with higher-energy data that the inclusive cross sections for Σ^±(1385) and the production ratios Σ^±(1385)/Λ in π^?p at 6 GeV/c have not reached the high-energy limiting values.     

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.     

Experimental analysis of the properties of the five-pion effect observed in pp interactions near 1950 MeV/c2

The properties of the effect observed in the reaction $\text{p}\text{p}\text{→ π}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{π}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{π}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{π}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{π}{}^0\text{at}\text{1949 ± 10}\text{MeV}\text{/c}{}^2\text{(τ ? 80}\text{MeV}\text{/c}{}^2\text{)}$ are studied. The ω⁰?⁰, A₂⁰π⁺π^? and π⁺π^?π⁺π^?π⁰ (non-resonant) channels are found to be coupled with this object. The assignment I^G = 1^? is established and an analysis of the √s behaviour of the density matrix elements for the final state ω⁰?⁰ clearly favour J^P = 2⁺, 4⁺… Comparisons are made with present theoretical schemes describing this mass region.     

A partial-wave analysis of the reaction π−p → K+K−n measured on a polarized target at ∼18 GeV/c

The reaction π^?p→K⁺K^?n has been studied on a hydrogen target (27 000 events) at 18.4 GeV/c and on a polarized target (54 000 events) at 17.2 GeV/c. A combination of results of both experiments allows a partial-wave analysis of the K⁺K^? system between 1.1 and 1.74 GeV mass without any model assumptions. In general our fits yield unique solutions. Using results of our previous analysis of π⁺π^? final states and assuming the dominance of the positive G-parity states in the K⁺K^? system, the branching ratios $\text{BR}\text{(}\text{K}\text{K}\text{/ππ)}$ of partial waves into $\text{K}\text{K}\text{and}\text{ππ}$ are determined. The S-wave appears to be mainly a broad ε (1300) with $\text{BR}\text{(}\text{K K}\text{/ππ) = 0.068}{}_{\mathrm{?0.021}}{}^{\mathrm{+0.017}}$. The weak P-wave can be described by a tail of the $\text{?(770)}\text{with BR}\text{(}\text{K K}\text{/ππ) = 0.081}{}_{\mathrm{?0.025}}{}^{\mathrm{+0.029}}$. The D-wave is interpreted in terms of a superposition of f(1270) + A₂(1310) + f′(1515) resonances. The fit yields $\text{BR}\text{(}\text{K K}\text{/ππ) = 0.069}{}_{\mathrm{?0.031}}{}^{\mathrm{+0.023}}$ for the f(1270) and BR(ππ/all) = 0.027_?0.013^+0.071 for the f′(1515). The F-wave shows the g(1690) meson with $\text{BR}\text{(}\text{K K}\text{/ππ) = 0.191}{}_{\mathrm{?0.037}}{}^{\mathrm{+0.040}}$. All the above values refer to the t bin between 0.01 and 0.20 (GeV/c)². Some results are also given for the high-t region.     

Study of the Kππ system produced in K−p → KππN reactions at 14.3 GeV/c

We have studied the $\text{K}\text{ππ}$ system in the 14.3 GeV/c reactions K^?p → K^?π⁺π^?p, $\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{p}\text{→}\text{K}{}^0\text{π}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{π}{}^0\text{and}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{p}\text{→}\text{K}{}^0\text{π}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{π}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{n}$. The data have been obtained from a 500 000 picture exposure of the CERN 2m HBC. The first two final states are dominated by Q-production in the Kππ system; there is also an L-signal at M (Kππ) ～ 1.75 GeV. The reaction cross sections are compared to K^?p data at other energies. We discuss the Kππ mass dependence of the diffractive production slope. Evidence is presented for a Q^?p versus Q⁺p differential cross section cross-over around |t| = 0.17 GeV². A t-channel isospin analysis for the $\text{KN}\text{→}\text{K}\text{1(890)π}\text{N}$ channels in the Q-region shows that the I = 1 exchange amplitude is $\text{? 10\%}$ of the dominant I = 0 exchange amplitude. The Kππ decay distributions indicate a predominant J^P = 1⁺ state in the Q-region, and an important J^P = 2^? contribution in the L-region. We find neither s-channel nor t-channel helicity conservation at the meson vertex in the Q- or L-regions. The Kπ angular correlation moments within the Kππ diffractive system are characteristic of Kπ elastic scattering, suggesting a π-exchange Deck-type production mechanism. There is evidence for a Kf⁰ and κπ contribution (where κ is the J^P(Kπ) = 0⁺ state) to the diffractive Kππ system. A fit to the $\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{π}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{π}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{and}\text{K}{}^0\text{π}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{π}{}^0$ Dalitz-plot distributions for the Q-re gion indicates that the ratio of $\text{K}\text{?}\text{to K}{}^1\text{π}$ decay amplitudes decreases with increasing Kππ mass.     

The ϱ and A2 exchange amplitudes in meson-baryon scattering for ϱlab between 2.5 and 200 GeV/c

We present a parametrization of the ? and A₂ exchange amplitudes which fits all the available data on the reactions $\text{π}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{p}\text{→ π}{}^0\text{n}\text{, π}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{p}\text{→}\text{K}{}^0\text{n}\text{,}\text{and K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{n}\text{→}\text{K}{}^0\text{p}$ in the momentum range from 2.5 to 200 GeV/c and for momentum transfers up to t = ?2.0 (GeV/c)².     

Semicoherent elastic pion-carbon scattering at 25 and 40 GeV/c

In the frame of a systematic study of hadron-nucleus interactions performed at the Serpukhov accelerator (CERN-IHEP 5th experiment), semicoherent elastic scattering on carbon $\text{π}{}^{\mathrm{?12}}\text{C}\text{a}\text{?}\text{π}{}^{\mathrm{?12}}\text{C}{}^1\text{(4.44}\text{MeV}\text{)}$ was investigated with 25 and 40 GeV/c incident pions.The experimental data were obtained with a counter technique, looking at the coincidence between the scattered pion and the 4.44 MeV photon from the J^P = 2⁺ carbon excited state detected by a NaI counter.The value obtained for the integrated cross section at 40 GeV/c in the 0.0032 ? |t| ? 0.27 (GeV/c)² four-momentum transfer range isσ = 1.16 ± 0.11 mb.According to the theoretical models, this t-range at 40 GeV/c covers more than 99% of the angular distribution, so the above value almost corresponds to the total semicoherent elastic cross section.     

Production of A20and ω1 (1675) in the reaction π−p → π+π−π0n at 12 and 15 GeV/c

Data on the reaction π^?p → π⁺π^?π⁰ have been taken at 12 and 15 GeV/c with the CERN Omega multiparticle spectrometer. In a 3-pion partial-wave analysis strong production of $\text{A}{}_2{}^0\text{(1310)}\text{and}\text{ω}{}^1\text{(1675)}$ is observed. Total and differential cross sections are determined and density matrix elements presented as a function of t in the t- and s-channel frames. The energy dependence of A₂⁰ production is studied, and a comparison of $\text{ω(780),}\text{A}{}_2{}^0\text{(1310)}\text{and}\text{ω}{}^1\text{(1675)}$ production is made.     

Inclusive production of vector and tensor mesons in antiproton-proton annihilation and non-annihilation interactions at 9.1 GeV/c

Cross sections have been determined for the inclusive production of vector $\text{(?}{}^0\text{, ω,}\text{K}{}^1\text{)}$ and tensor (f, A₂^±) mesons in $\text{p}\text{p}$ reactions at 9.1 GeV/c for both annihilation and non-annihilation processes. Distributions in the Feynman variable x and transverse momentum squared, p_T², have been examined for the ?⁰, ω and f mesons. The slopes for p_T² appear to be exponential and decrease with increasing particle mass for both annihilation and non-annihilation reactions, furthermore the slopes have consistently higher values for non-annihilation reactions. Comparisons with other data indicate that the ratio ?⁰/π^? is independent of antiproton momentum in annihilation processes.     

Generalization of multiperipheral model with long range correlations; Van Der Waals approximation

Three enhancements are observed in the final state ω^°π⁺π⁺π⁺⁺π^?π^? selected from the channel $\text{p}\text{p → 3π}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{3π}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{π}{}^{\mathrm{°}}$ at 715 MeV/c: one in ω^°π^± at 1040 MeV (～ ≈ 55MeV) ω^°π⁺π^?, respectively near 1315 MeV (～ ≈ 100 MeV) and 1405 MeV (～ ≈ 40 MeV). The first two effects are strongly correlated and are interpreted in terms of a sequential decay A^°₂ through a new object, the B₁. The second (ωππ) enhancement seems to be an ?^°?^° effect below threshold and is attributed to a pionic decay of the $\text{K}\text{K}\text{)}{}_{\mathrm{I}}\text{=1}$ effect seen around the same mass in other reactions.     

Spin parity structure of the Q and L enhancements in K−p → (K−π−π+)p at 10 and 16 GeV/c

A parital wave analysis of the (Kππ) system produced in K^?p → (K^?π^?π⁺)p at 10 and 16 GeV/c has been performed. It is found that in 88% of the cases the Kππ) system is in unnatural spin-parity (J^P) states 0^?, 1⁺, 2^? …, with contributions from many decay modes, $\text{κπ,}\text{K}{}^1\text{(890)π,}\text{K}{}^1\text{(1420)π,}\text{K}\text{?,}\text{K}\text{?}\text{and Kf}$. More than one decay m and J^P state are required to describe the Q and L enhancements, suggesting a composite structure of these enhancements. The (Kππ) system is produced dominantly (～95%) by natural parity exchange. Overall, the production mechanism of the (Kππ) system is remarkably similar to that of the 3π system in π^?p → (π^?π^?π⁺)p, even i detailed spin-parity structure.     

Some three-body final states in K−p reactions at 14.3 GeV/c

We present experimental results on a number of K^?p reactions at 14.3 GeV/c that have three bodies in the final state. The final states are $\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{ω}\text{p}\text{,}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{π}\text{p}\text{, Λπ}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{π}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{, Λ}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{, Λp}\text{p}\text{,}\text{K}{}^1{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{ω}\text{p}\text{, Λ(1520)}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{and}\text{Λ(1520)}\text{p}\text{p}$. Whenever, with one exception explained by the Zweig rule, there is a K^? or a proton in the final state, there is a diffractive-like threshold enhancement in the mass spectrum of the two recoiling particles. These enhancements account for a large fraction of the events in all but the Λπ⁺π^? final state, where they cannot occur, and which is dominated by resonance production. We find evidence for the Q₁(1300) decaying into K^?ω.     

Study of Kπ scattering using the reactions K±p → K±π+nand K±p → K±π−Δ ++at 13 GeV

An elastic Kπ partial-wave analysis is presented. It is based on high statistics data for the reactions $\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{\pm }}\text{p}\text{→}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{\pm }}\text{π}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{n}\text{and K}{}^{\mathrm{\pm }}\text{p}\text{→}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{\pm }}\text{π}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{Δ}{}^{\mathrm{++}}\text{at}\text{13}\text{GeV}$ obtained in a spectrometer experiment performed at SLAC. For each reaction, a t-dependent parametrization of the production amplitudes provides information on both the Kπ mass dependence of the production mechanisms and on Kπ scattering. Knowledge of the t-dependence then allows a calculation of the Kπ partial-wave amplitudes for Kπ masses from 0.7 to 1.9 GeV. The results of such analyses using data for (i) the neutral recoil reactions, (ii) the Δ⁺⁺ recoil reactions, and (iii) both neutron and Δ⁺⁺ recoil reactions simultaneously, are presented. Besides the leading J^P = 1^?, 2⁺, and 3^? resonances at M_Kπ = 0.896, 1.434, and 1.78 GeV, there is evidence in two of the four possible partial-wave solutions for a broad P-wave resonant-like structure in the region of 1700 MeV. The $\text{I =}\text{1}\text{2}$ S-wave magnitude rises slowly and smoothly to a maximum near 1400 MeV, but then decreases rapidly between 1400 and 1600 MeV. This structure is strongly indicative of an S-wave resonance near 1450 MeV. The charge-two Kπ reaction is dominated by S-wave scattering with a total cross section decreasing from 4 mb at 0.9 GeV to 2 mb at 1.5 GeV. Both the $\text{I =}\text{1}\text{2}$ S-wave below 1400 MeV and the $\text{I =}\text{3}\text{2}$ S-wave are well described by an effective range parametrization.     

Inclusive K1±(892) production in pp and π+p interactions

A study is presented of the inclusive production cross sections of K^1±(892) vector mesons in pp interactions at 12 and 24 GeV/c and in π⁺p interactions at 16 GeV/c. The K^1± inclusive cross section is ～0.9 mb for both pp at 24 GeV/c and π⁺p interactions at 16 GeV/c. For pp interactions, $\text{σ(}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{1+}}\text{)}$ and $\text{σ(}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{1?}}\text{)}$ are seen to rise with energy, showing a threshold behaviour. In both pp and π⁺p interactions, $\text{σ(}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{1+}}\text{)}$ largely exceeds $\text{σ(}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{1?}}\text{)}$ at these energies and this excess is interpreted as K¹⁺ production by beam and target fragmentations. The decays of K^1±0 yield ～30% of the K⁰ observed in the final states. The p_T² dependence of both K¹⁺ and K^1? cross sections is described by an exponential with slope of ～3.3 (GeV/c)^?2. The longitudinal momentum spectra for K¹⁺ in 16 GeV/cπ⁺p and 24 GeV/c pp interactions are similar in shape in the target hemisphere. The K^1? spectra are similar over the whole kinematic region when viewed in the quark c.m.s. and point to a central production mechanism. Comparing K¹⁺ and ρ⁰ production, striking similarities are found.     

Observation of the radiative transition ψ → γE(1420)

We have observed a radiative transition from the ψ to a state decaying into K_SK^±π^?, with mass M = 1.44_?0.015^+0.01 GeV/c² and width Γ = 0.05_?0.02^+0.03 GeV/c². We tentatively identify this state as the E(1420). Assuming that this state is an isospin singlet, we have determined the branching fraction product $\text{B(ψ → γ}\text{E}\text{) × B(}\text{E}\text{×}\text{K}\text{K}\text{π) = (3.6 ± 1.4) × 10}{}^{\mathrm{?3}}$.     

Inclusive production of K̄1(890) and K̄1(1420) in K̄−p interactions at 10 and 16 GeV/c

The inclusive production of K?¹(890) and K?¹(1420) is studied in K?^?p interactions at 10 and 16 GeV/c. At 10 GeV/c an enhancement in the ($\text{K}\text{?}{}^0\text{π}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$) mass distribution is found at 1.74 GeV, but no clear signal is seen at 16 GeV/c. The fraction of $\text{K}{}^0\text{'}\text{s}$ coming from decay of the $\text{K}{}^1\text{(890)}\text{or}\text{K}{}^1\text{(1420)}$ is large, being (50 ± 6)% and (45 ± 5)% at 10 and 16 GeV/c, respectively. The inclusive cross sections for K^1?(890) and $\text{K}{}^{10}\text{(890)}$ production are almost constant with energy from 8 to 32 GeV/c with values of 3.5 and 3.3 mb, respectively. The $\text{K}{}^1\text{(890)}$ production cross section is studied as a function of transverse and longitudinal variables and found to derive mainly from fragmentation of the incident K^? meson. The spectra of $\text{K}{}^0\text{'}\text{s}$ resulting from the decay of $\text{K}{}^1\text{(890)}$ are studied.     

Search for non-strange exotic mesons produced via baryon exchange

Negative results on backward production, via baryon exchange, of exotic non-strange mesons are presented. The reactions π^?p→p_forwardX^?and π^?n→ p_forwardX^?? have been studied with a 12 GeV/cπ^? beam in the Omega spectrometer at CERN. No resonant peak in $\text{X}\text{→}\text{p}\text{p}\text{π}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{,}\text{p}\text{p}\text{π}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{π}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{,}\text{p}\text{p}\text{π}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{π}{}^0\text{,π}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{π}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{π}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{π}{}^0$ has been seen. The upper limits obtained on cross sections for exotic meson production $\text{X}\text{→}\text{N}\text{N}\text{π,}\text{N}\text{N}\text{π, 4π}$ are lower than the ?^? backward production cross section in the π^?p→p?^? reaction; this result seems to contradict the predictions of the two-component duality model. Compared to already published experiments in the search for exotics produced via baryon exchange, the sensitivity of this experiment is increased by an order of magnitude.