Partial-wave analysis of backwardly produced three-pion systems in K−p interactions at 4.2 GeV/c

We report on the results of a partial-wave analysis of the 3π system produced by baryon exchange in the reaction K^?p→Σ^?π⁺π⁺π^? at 4.2 GeV/c. We confirm the existence of an enhancement in the 1⁺S(?π) wave as previously established from a Dalitz plot analysis of the same data. The phase variation of this wave is found to be consistent with that expected for a resonance and thus the enhancement is identified with A₁ production. No clear signal for this state is found in either the reaction K^?p→Σ⁺π⁺π⁺π^?π^? or K^?p→Λπ⁺π^?π⁰. We also find production via baryon exchange of the A₂ in all three reactions and the ω and $\text{ω}{}^1$ (1975) in the third reaction.