A study of K−π+ scattering in the reaction K−p→K−π+n at 11 GeV/c

Abstract

Results from a high statistics study of the reaction K−p→K−π+n are presented. These results are based on data obtained with an 11 GeV/c beam using the LASS spectrometer at SLAC. The mass dependence of the spherical harmonic moments provides clear evidence for the production of the complete leading orbitally excited K∗ series up through JP = 5−. These moments are used to perform an energy independent partial wave analysis of the K−π+ system from threshold to 2.6 GeV/c2 using a t-dependent parametrization of the production amplitudes. The amplitudes corroborate the leading K∗(892), K2∗(1430), K3∗(1780), K4∗(2060), and K5∗(2380) resonances observed directly in the moments, and also provide new evidence for underlying states. The 0+ amplitude contains the K0∗(1350) and a second 0+K∗(1950) at higher mass. The 1−K∗(1790) seen earlier two and three-body analyses is confirmed, and evidence is provided for suppressed K−π+ decay mode of a second 1− state, the K∗(1410), which has been seen in earlier three-body analyses.