A test of factorisation predictions for the fragmentation processes pp→π± at p momenta of 9.1 and 4.6 GeV/c

Relations have been derived between the invariant cross sections for various inclusive processes by assuming factorisation of the leading (pomeron) and non-leading (meson) trajectories. In this paper predictions for the invariant cross sections $\text{f(}\text{p}\text{p}\text{→π}{}^{\mathrm{\pm }}\text{)(2E}{}^1\text{/π√s)}\text{d}{}^2\text{σ/}\text{d}\text{x}\text{d}\text{p}{}^2{}_{\mathrm{\perp }}{}^2$ have been tested using data from $\text{p}\text{p}$interactions at 4.6 and 9.1 GeV/c.A large discrepancy between experiment and theory is apparent for the π^? data: in the π⁺ case the discrepancy is less marked but still present.