Cross-sections of large-angle hadron production in proton– and pion–nucleus interactions IV: copper nuclei and beam momenta from ±3 GeV/c to ±15 GeV/c

We report on double-differential inclusive cross-sections of the production of secondary protons, charged pions, and deuterons, in the interactions with a 5% λ _abs thick stationary copper target, of proton and pion beams with momentum from ±3 GeV/c to ±15 GeV/c. Results are given for secondary particles with production angles 20°<θ<125°. The inclusive pion production cross-sections are compared to those on beryllium and tantalum, published by us recently.     

Energy dependence of transverse momentum invariant distribution of pions and neutral kaons in K−p interactions between 14.3 and 70 GeV/c

The energy dependence of the transverse momentum invariant distribution of pions and neutral kaons is studied in K^?p interactions between 14.3 and 70 GeV/c. The large P_T part of the distributions violates the Feynman scaling and, above P_T ? 1.5 GeV/c, appears to be reasonably described by hard scattering models. The variation of the average transverse momentum is also studied as a function of the c.m. reduced longitudinal momentum, and its behaviour is compared to the data obtained via the hadronic shower produced in lepton-hadron interactions.     

Direct conversion of mixed phase into free hadronic gas and transverse pion momenta in ultra-relativistic nuclear collisions

The deflagration model is developed for a physically substantiated situation when free pions are radiated directly from a time-like hypersurface formed by a rarefaction shock wave. It is shown that the shock front and pion collective flow velocities are enhanced in this approach as compared to the standard deflagration model. Exotic regimes are also possible. The stability conditions are investigated and analytic solutions are found. We calculate the pion transverse momentum spectra in ultra-relativistic nuclear collisions and indicate their behavior in the region 0.2 GeV/c<p _⊥<1 Gev/c. The spectra are essentially different in this region depending on whether or not longitudinal collective flows are in a mixed phase.     

Study of longitudinal correlations between pions from fragmentation processes inK − p interactions at 32 GeV/c

Longitudinal correlations between pions inclusively produced in the target and beam fragmentation regions are studied in aK ^? p bubble chamber experiment at 32 GeV/c with a sensitivity of about 6.7 ev/μb. It was found that the \({{\tilde x_2 = x_2 } \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{\tilde x_2 = x_2 } {(1 - \left| {x_1 } \right|)}}} \right. \kern-0em} {(1 - \left| {x_1 } \right|)}}\) distributions of charged pions with momentum fraction in the proton hemisphere with respect to a charged “trigger” pion with momentum fraction x₁ do not show scaling, that those of the associated π₁/π₂ do not compare toK ⁺ p interactions and give indications for quark annihilation. The invariant two- and three pion longitudinal C.M. distributions show significant deviations from the naive quark recombination picture. Distinct long-range correlations observed between π^? s from the proton fragmentation region and π⁺ s from theK ^? fragmentation region could imply contributions from quark exchange or quark annihilation mechanisms inK ^? p interactions at 32 GeV/c.     

Structure of final states with a high transverse momentum π0 in proton-proton collisions

We present a study of the final state structure in proton-proton collisions (√s = 53 GeV) where a large transverse momentum π⁰ (p_t > 2 GeV/c) is produced at an angle of 90°. Charged secondaries have been detected and momentum analysed in the split field magnet detector at the CERN Intersecting Storage Rings. The large angular coverage of this detector extends over ±2.5 units of rapidity and ±30° of azimuth with respect to the trigger π⁰, both towards and away from it. In each of these directions, where we observe similar strong correlations, we present charged particle distributions, in rapidity and momentum. In the hemisphere containing the trigger π⁰ we have measured the cross section for inclusive production of large transverse momentum ?^± mesons. In the opposite hemisphere the data exhibit several features predicted by hard scattering quark-parton models: coplanarity and short-range rapidity correlation for the large transverse momentum secondaries as well as a transverse momentum sharing distribution similar to that observed in deep inelastic electro-production and in e⁺e^? collisions.     

Abundance of Δ resonances in 58Ni + 58Ni collisions between 1 and 2 AGeV

Charged pion spectra measured in ⁵⁸Ni⁵⁸Ni collisions at 1.06, 1.45 and 1.93 AGeV are interpreted in terms of a thermal model including the decay of Δ resonances. The transverse momentum spectra of pions are well reproduced by adding the pions originating from the Δ -resonance decay to the component of thermal pions, deduced from the high transverse momentum part of the pion spectra. About 10 and 18% of the nucleons are excited to Δ states at freeze-out for beam energies of 1 and 2 AGeV, respectively.     

Why breakup of photons and pions into forward dijets is so different: Predictions from nonlinear nuclear <Emphasis Type="Italic">k</Emphasis><Subscript>⊥</Subscript> factorization

Based on an approach to non-Abelian propagation of color dipoles in a nuclear medium, we formulate a nonlinear k_⊥ factorization for the breakup of photons and pions into forward hard dijets in terms of the collective Weizsäcker-Williams glue of nuclei. We find quite distinct practical consequences of nonlinear nuclear k_⊥ factorization for interactions of pointlike photons and nonpointlike pions. In the former case, the large transverse momentum p_⊥ of jets comes from the intrinsic momentum of quarks and antiquarks in the photon, and nuclear effects manifest themselves as an azimuthal decorrelation with an acoplanarity momentum of the order of the nuclear saturation momentum Q _A . In the breakup of pions off free nucleons to the leading order in pQCD, the spectator parton has a small transverse momentum and the hard dijet cross section is suppressed. In the breakup of pions off heavy nuclei, the forward hard jets are predicted to be entirely decorrelated. We comment on the sensitivity of the pionic dijet cross section to the pion distribution amplitude. The predicted distinction between the breakup of photons and pions can be tested by the sphericity and thrust analysis of the forward hadronic system in the COMPASS experiment at CERN.     

Possibilities of revealing collective pion degrees of freedomin nuclei by means of quasielastic pion knockout by high-energy electrons

The kinematics of quasielastic pion knockout by longitudinal virtual photons in the electroproduction process is presented. The possibility of directly investigating pion momentum distributions in specific channels owing to pole-amplitude dominance is considered. It is shown that, taking into account the final-state interaction of the knock-on pion and the nucleus involved, one can reveal the existence of a pion condensate in nuclei, since the momentum distribution of collective pions has a pronounced maximum at a momentum in excess of 0.3 GeV/c and since the excitation spectrum of the final recoil nucleus is concentrated in the low-energy region E* ≈ K ²/(2AM _N ) ≤ 1 MeV. The picture of pion knockout from meson clouds of individual nucleons is totally different. The analogous rho-mesonmomentum distributions for the process ρ + γT* → π are also presented.     

Charged particle productions at 90° in the center of mass in very high energy proton-proton collisions

The transverse momentum distribution at 90° of pions, protons and antiprotons have been measured at the CERN intersecting storage rings for C.M. energies between 23.2 and 52.7 GeV. In this energy range, the pion and proton distributions are almost energy independent. The antiproton production rises by a factor of two between 23.2 and 52.7 GeV.     

Higher moments of the pion multiplicity distribution in proton-proton interactions at 12 and 24 GeV/c

Results on higher moments of the pion multiplicity distribution are presented for pp interactions at 12 and 24 GeV/c incident lab momentum. A simple parametrization for the pion multiplicity distribution is established at 12 and 24 GeV/c and is then used to discuss the energy dependence of higher moments in a range from 4 to about 500 GeV/c incident lab momentum.     

Inclusive production of charged pions in p?+?C collisions at 158?GeV/c beam momentum

The production of charged pions in minimum bias p+C interactions is studied using a sample of 377000 inelastic events obtained with the NA49 detector at the CERN SPS at 158 GeV/c beam momentum. The data cover a phase space area ranging from 0 to 1.8 GeV/c in transverse momentum and from -0.1 to 0.5 in Feynman x_F. Inclusive invariant cross sections are given on a grid of 270 bins per charge, thus offering for the first time a dense coverage of the projectile hemisphere and of the cross-over region into the target fragmentation zone.     

Cross-sections of large-angle hadron production in proton–and pion–nucleus interactions V: lead nuclei and beam momenta from ±3 GeV/c to ±15 GeV/c

We report on double-differential inclusive cross-sections of the production of secondary protons, charged pions, and deuterons, in the interactions with a 5% λ _int thick stationary lead target, of proton and pion beams with momentum from ±3 GeV/c to ±15 GeV/c. Results are given for secondary particles with production angles 20°<θ<125°. Cross-sections on lead nuclei are compared with cross-sections on beryllium, copper, and tantalum nuclei.     

Production of mesons and baryons at high rapidity and high p(T) in proton-proton collisions at square root[s] = 200 GeV

We present particle spectra for charged hadrons pi(+/-), K(+/-), p, and p[over] from pp collisions at square root[s] = 200 GeV measured for the first time at forward rapidities (2.95 and 3.3). The kinematics of these measurements are skewed in a way that probes the small momentum fraction in one of the protons and large fractions in the other. Large proton to pion ratios are observed at values of transverse momentum that extend up to 4 GeV/c, where protons have momenta up to 35 GeV. Next-to-leading order perturbative QCD calculations describe the production of pions and kaons well at these rapidities, but fail to account for the large proton yields and small p[over]/p ratios.     

Interference of secondary pions and time-space characteristics of their emission volume in π− p interactions at 40 GeV/c

The interference of positive and negative pions produced in π^? p interactions at 40 GeV/c is studied. It is shown that negative pions are emitted from larger distance than positive ones. The influence of resonance production on the size of pion emission volume is observed.     

Reactions with leading hadrons in meson-proton interactions at 250 GeV/c

Inelastic final states with one or two leading hadrons are studied in π⁺p and K⁺p interactions at 250 GeV/c. In reactions with two leading hadrons, the dependence of the average charge multiplicity of associated pions on their effective mass is essentially consistent with that observed in p?p and γγ-collisions, but differs from that obtained in e⁺e^? -annihilation. The multiplicity and (semi)inclusive characteristics of the π⁺-induced non-diffractive reactions are compared to predictions of current versions of the FRITIOF fragmentation model. We show that the hard-like sub-processes, essentially responsible for the production of leading hadrons with relatively large transverse momentum as well as for the relatively large multiplicity of associated pions, are not properly treated in the model.     

Measurement of the production of charged pions by protons on a tantalum target

A measurement of the double-differential cross-section for the production of charged pions in proton–tantalum collisions emitted at large angles from the incoming beam direction is presented. The data were taken in 2002 with the HARP detector in the T9 beam line of the CERN PS. The pions were produced by proton beams in a momentum range from 3 GeV/c to 12 GeV/c hitting a tantalum target with a thickness of 5% of a nuclear interaction length. The angular and momentum range covered by the experiment (100 MeV/c ≤p< 800 MeV/c and 0.35 rad ≤θ< 2.15 rad) is of particular importance for the design of a neutrino factory. The produced particles were detected using a small-radius cylindrical time projection chamber (TPC) placed in a solenoidal magnet. Track recognition, momentum determination and particle identification were all performed based on the measurements made with the TPC. An elaborate system of detectors in the beam line ensured the identification of the incident particles. Results are shown for the double-differential cross-sections d²σ/dpdθ at four incident proton beam momenta (3 GeV/c, 5 GeV/c, 8 GeV/c and 12 GeV/c). In addition, the pion yields within the acceptance of typical neutrino factory designs are shown as a function of beam momentum. The measurement of these yields within a single experiment eliminates most systematic errors in the comparison between rates at different beam momenta and between positive and negative pion production. PACS 13.75.Cs; 13.85.Ni     

Cross sections of large-angle hadron production in proton– and pion–nucleus interactions III: tantalum nuclei and beam momenta from ±3 GeV/c to ±15 GeV/c

We report on double-differential inclusive cross sections of the production of secondary protons, charged pions, and deuterons, in the interactions with a 5% λ _abs thick stationary tantalum target, of proton and pion beams with momentum from ±3 GeV/c to ±15 GeV/c. Results are given for secondary particles with production angles 20°<θ<125°. They are of particular relevance for the optimization of the design parameters of the proton driver of a neutrino factory.     

Cross-sections of large-angle hadron production in proton– and pion–nucleus interactions VI: carbon nuclei and beam momenta from ±3 GeV/c to ±15 GeV/c

We report on double-differential inclusive cross-sections of the production of secondary protons, charged pions, and deuterons, in the interactions with a 5% λ _int thick stationary carbon target, of proton and pion beams with momentum from ±3 GeV/c to ±15 GeV/c. Results are given for secondary particles with production angles 20°<θ<125°. Cross-sections on carbon nuclei are compared with cross-sections on beryllium, copper, tantalum and lead nuclei.     

Interferometry of pions and kaons in high energy collisions

A hydrodynamic model which reproduces the observed rapidity and transverse momentum spectra of mesons and baryons is applied to the study of Bose-Einstein correlations. The pion correlations are found to be strongly affected by resonance decays, except for pairs of large transverse momenta.For S+S at 200 A GeV, in the central rapidity region the effective longitudinal source radii for pions and kaons differ by a factor of 2, the transverse radii by a factor of 1.3. The lifetime of the source can be extracted from kaon interferometry.     

ΛO production in π−p interactions at 20 GeV/c

Lambda production in 20 GeV/c π^? interactions in hydrogen is studied. The distributions of the Λ^O and pion c.m. production angle, transverse momentum and c.m. longitudinal momentum as functions of the charge multiplicity are discussed. The effective-mass distributions are also studied and it is found that Y^1±(1385) production occurs in 18% of the interactions.