A spark chamber experiment on the reaction π− + p → n + π+ + π− at 3.1 – 3.6 GeV/ c

Abstract

A spark chamber experiment has been performed at the Rutherford Laboratory to study the reactions π − p → n π + π −, nK +K − and n+ (all neutrals) over the momentum range 3.1 – 3.6 GeV/ c. The experimental arrangement restricted measurements to small momentum transfers. Over the missing mass range 1.0 – 1.5 GeV/ c 2 (mass resolution ± 15 to ± 30 MeV/ c 2) the angular distribution of charged two-body decays was measured. Analysis of the angular distributions by fitting to Legendre polynomials shows enhancement of S-wave as well as D-wave at the f 0 mass. A number of K +K − decay events were observed but these did not exhibit a peak at the f 0 mass. These events yielded an upper limit of 2% for the K K ππ branching ratio at 85% confidence level.