Study of the inclusive reaction K −p→p+X at 32 GeV/ c

Abstract

In a K −p experiment at 32 GeV/ c with a sensitivity of 6 ev/≈b the inclusive reaction K −p → p + X was studied in the kinematical region x < −0.3. Most of the protons in this region were identified by ionization. Correcting for losses of the very slow as well as of the fast protons in this region we obtained σ p( x < −0.3) = 5.9 ± 0.2 mb. The double invariant differential cross sections of protons were analysed in terms of the variables x, p T 2, and M 2/ s, t, and the contributions from separate peripheral mechanisms were analysed. A triple-Regge analysis was performed on the inclusive proton d 2 σ/d td( M 2/ s) distribution with | t| < 1.1 GeV 2. The fit with an RRP term resulted in an effective trajectory for the exchanged reggeon lying somewhat lower than that for the leading meson trajectory. Inclusion in the fit of an additional ππp term showed that pion exchange is important in the triple-Regge region at small | t|.