The missing mass squared dependence of the average charged particle multiplicity in the reaction K+p → KoX++ from 5–16 GeV/c

The average charged particle multiplicity, 〈n_ch(M_X²)〉, in the reaction K⁺p→K^oX⁺⁺ is studied as a function of the mass squared, M_X², of the recoil system X and also as a function of the K^o transverse momentum, p_T, at incident momenta of 5.0, 8.2 and 16.0 GeV/c. The complete data samples yield distributions which are not independent of c.m. energy squared, s, They exhibit a linear dependence on log (M_X²_X/M_o²)[M_o²=1 GeV²] with a change in slope occurring for M_X²≈s/2, and do not agree with the corresponding distributions of 〈n_ch〉 as a function of s for K⁺ p inelastic scattering. Sub-samples of the data for which K^o production via beam fragmentation, central production and target fragmentation are expected to be the dominant mechanisms show that, within error, the distribution of 〈n_ch(M_X²)〉 versus M_X² is independent of incident momentum for each sub-sample separately. In particular in the beam fragmentation region the 〈n_ch(M_X²)〉 versus M_X² distribution agrees rather well with that of 〈n_ch〉 versus s for inelastic K⁺p interactions. The latter result agrees with recent results on the reactions pp → pX and π^?p → pX in the NAL energy range. Evidence is presented for the presence of different production mechanisms in these separate regions.