Investigation of the double diffraction dissociation reaction pp → (pπ+π−) (pπ+π−) at 24 GeV/c

Data from a high-statistics bubble chamber experiment at 24 GeV/c are used to study the double diffraction dissociation reaction pp→(pπ⁺π^?) (pπ⁺π^?) where both protons of the initial state dissociate into pπ⁺π^? systems. Cross section, mass spectra and dσ/dt' distributions have been determined and are compared with the results found for the single diffraction dissociation reaction pp → p(pπ⁺π^?), which have been obtained from the same experiment. All our findings agree well with what is expected from the factorization hypothesis.