Inclusive strange particle production in π+p interactions at 16 GeV/c

The production of $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{S}}{}^0\text{, Λ}\text{and}\text{Λ}$ is measured in π⁺p reactions at 16 GeV/c. The total strange particle cross section is found to be 4.0 ± 0.3 mb, about 20% of the inelastic cross section. Cross sections for single strange particles and for strange particle pairs are determined, both inclusively and as functions of the charged multiplicity. Relative production rates for different strange particle combinations are compared with the prediction of the isospin statistical model. Inclusive spectra for single particles are studied and it is found the K_S⁰ are produced mostly in the forward hemisphere, most probably by fragmentation of the incident pion into $\text{K}\text{K}\text{π}$. The Λ are mostly backwards, probably deriving from fragmentation of the proton into ΛK pairs. The $\text{Λ}$ tend to be produced forwards, but evidence is found for central $\text{Λ}\text{Λ}$ production. Distributions in rapidity of the Λ particles from π⁺p interactions are compared in terms of the factorisation hypothesis. Results are given on the Λ transversal polarisation.