Analysis of proton-nucleon interactions in nuclear emulsions at incident momenta 24 and 27 GeV/c

Abstract

Analysis of proton-nucleon interactions in nuclear emulsions, at incident momenta 24 and 27 GeV/ c is presented. Application of suitable selection criteria, to events with N H = 0–4, is shown to ensure that the sample is consistent with proton-nucleon interactions. The “solo shower stars” are interpreted as quasi-elastic events. Momentum distributions for identified pions and protons are presented in the center of mass system. The transverse momentum distributions are compared with the statistical theory. The production frequency of π 0 mesons in small and large multiplicity groups is deduced. The ratio charge/neutral for pions is shown to vary with N S. The inelasticity distributions deduced from the angular measurements, are shown to be continuous. It is concluded that the effective target mass does not necessarily compel one to associate with the target the mass of a real pion.