Investigation of ϱ+, ϱ− and ϱ0 production in π+p interactions at 16 GeV/ c and pp interactions at 24 GeV/ c and quark model predictions

Abstract

Quasi-inclusive and total inclusive ϱ +, ϱ − and ϱ 0 cross sections have been studied, using data of a π +p and a pp bubble chamber experiment at 16 and 24 GeV/ c, respectively. In pp collisions it is found that the total inclusive cross sections for ϱ 0, ϱ + and ϱ − production are about equal. This equality also holds for the differential cross sections dσ/ dy ∗ , all showing the characteristics of dominantly central production. In the π +p reactions the ϱ − are mainly produced centrally, whereas there are strong additional contributions in the beam fragmentation region for ϱ + and ϱ 0 mesons. In the central region, however, the cross sections for ϱ +, ϱ − and ϱ 0 production are almost equal within errors. All our findings agree with what is expected from quark model predictions.