Results of a spark chamber experiment on elastic scattering of pions on protons are presented and analyzed. The processes studied were π+p at 2.92 GeV/c, and π−p at 3.15, 4.13, and 4.95 GeV/c. The data are fitted to an exponential function of the four-momentum transfer, t, in several different ways in attempts to explore systematic energy and angular dependences. No shrinkage of the diffraction peak is seen in comparing the coefficients of a linear exponential fit for |t|<0.4 (GeV/c)2; at larger |t|, however, the cross section falls off with increasing energy. The large-angle differential cross section is examined for structure and is compared with all other large angle scattering data. The results are compared with proton-proton scattering data over the same energy range and substantial differences between the two processes are evident.

The elastic differential cross section for the scattering of negative pions by hydrogen was measured at laboratory-system pion kinetic energies of 230, 290, 370, and 427 Mev. The elastically scattered pions were detected by a counter telescope which discriminated against recoil protons and inelastic pions on the basis of range. Differential cross sections were obtained at nine angles for each energy and were fitted by a least-squares program to a series of Legendre polynomials. At the three higher energies, D waves are required to give satisfactory fits to the data. The real parts of the forward-scattering amplitudes calculated from this experiment are in agreement with the predictions of dispersion theory. The results of this experiment, in conjunction with data from other pion-nucleon scattering experiments, support the hypothesis of charge independence at these higher energies.

Protons of the internal circulating beam of the Bevatron were scattered in a polyethylene target. Both scattered and recoil protons were detected by scintillation counters at angles which define elastic proton-proton events. An internal counter was located within a few inches of the beam to permit measurements at laboratory scattering angles as low as 2°. Absolute values are based on the calibration of the induction electrode that monitors the circulating beam. Total elastic cross sections obtained by integrating the differential spectra are 17, 10, and 8 mb at 2.24, 4.40, and 6.15 Bev, respectively. The experimental angular distributions are consistent with the prediction of a simple optical model with a complex index of refraction at short range.

A simple, large-solid-angle apparatus, specially suited for the measurement of backward elastic scattering of medium-energy pions on protons and deuterons, is described. The method of analysis which reduces background and determines elastic events from a data sample of 185 MeV negative pions incident on a D 2 O target is discussed. Results for 141 MeV π + p and 185 MeV π − p backward cross-sections are also presented and compared with cross-sections calculated from known phase shifts.

Report on the investigation of interactions in π−p collisions at a pion momentum of 1.59 GeV/c, by means of the 50 cm Saclay liquid hydrogen bubble chamber, operating in a magnetic field of 17.5 kG. The results obtained concern essentially the elastic scattering and the inelastic scattering accompanied by the production of either a single pion in π−p→ pπ−π0 and nπ−π+ interactions, or by more than one pion in four-prong events. The observed angular distribution for the elastic scattering in the diffraction region, can be approximated by an exponential law. From the extrapolated value, thus obtained for the forward scattering, one gets σel= (9.65±0.30) mb. Effective mass spectra of π−π0 and π−π+ dipions are given in case of one-pion production. Each of them exhibits the corresponding ρ− or ρ0 resonances in the region of ∼ 29μ2 (μ = mass of the charged pion). The ρ peaks are particularly conspicuous for low momentum transfer (Δ2) events. The ρ0 distribution presents a secondary peak at ∼31μ2 due probably to the ω0 → π−π+ process. The branching ratio (ω0→ π+π−)/(ω0→ π+π− 0) is estimated to be ∼ 7%. The results are fairly well interpreted in the frame of the peripheral interaction according to the one-pion exchange (OPE) model, Up to values of Δ2/μ2∼10. In particular, the ratio ρ−/ρ0 is of the order of 0.5, as predicted by this model. Furthermore, the distribution of the Treiman-Yang angle is compatible with an isotropic one inside the ρ. peak. The distribution of\(\sigma _{\pi ^ + \pi ^ - } \), as calculated by the use of the Chew-Low formula assumed to be valid in the physical region of Δ2, gives a maximum which is appreciably lower than the value of\(12\pi \tilde \lambda ^2 = 120 mb\) expected for a resonant elastic ππ scattering in a J=1 state at the peak of the ρ. However, a correcting factor to the Chew-Low formula, introduced by Selleri, gives a fairly good agreement with the expected value. Another distribution, namely the Δ2 distribution, at least for Δ2 < 10 μ2, agrees quite well with the peripheral character of the interaction involving the ρ resonance. π− angular distributions in the rest frame of the ρ exhibit a different behaviour for the ρ− and for the ρ0. Whereas the first one is symmetrical, as was already reported in a previous paper, the latter shows a clear forward π− asymmetry. The main features of the four-prong results are: 1) the occurrence of the 3/2 3/2 (ρπ+) isobar in π−p → pπ+π−π− events and 2) the possible production of the ω0→ π+π−π0 resonance in π−p→ pπ−π+π−π0 events. No ρ’s were observed in four-prong events.

The reaction π−+p→π−+p has been studied in the 15-in. bubble chamber at the Princeton-Pennsylvania Accelerator. The elastic scattering cross section was determined to be 8.5 ± 0.2 mb. The forward peak fits to an exponential in t with a slope of 8.1 ± 0.2 (GeV/c)−2. The forward differential cross section dσdΩ(0)=17.9±0.7 mb/sr. A fit of the center-of-mass angular distribution to Legendre polynomials needed terms up to the 12th order, corresponding to the highest nonzero partial wave of L=6.

K − p reactions have been studied at 13 different incident momenta between 1138 and 1434 MeV/ c . This interval corresponds to a mass of the K − p system varying from 1858 to 1993 MeV. About 300 000 photographs were taken in the 81 cm Saclay hydrogen bubble chamber exposed to a separated K − beam at the CERN proton-synchrotron. A total of about 44 000 events were analyzed, from which partial and differential cross sections were determined. Polarizations were obtained for the two-body reactions where the decay of the Λ or Σ hyperon allowed their measurement. Data for the two-body channels are presented here as well as for the main quasi-two-body reactions.

The single-pion production reactions $pp\to d\pi^+$, $pp\to np\pi^+$ and $pp\to pp\pi^0$ were measured at a beam momentum of 0.95 GeV/c ($T_p \approx$ 400 MeV) using the short version of the COSY-TOF spectrometer. The implementation of a central calorimeter provided particle identification, energy determination and neutron detection in addition to time-of-flight and angle measurements. Thus all pion production channels were recorded with 1-4 overconstraints. The total and differential cross sections obtained are compared to previous data and theoretical calculations. Main emphasis is put on the discussion of the $pp\pi^0$ channel, where we obtain angular distributions different from previous experimental results, however, partly in good agreement with recent phenomenological and theoretical predictions. In particular we observe very large anisotropies for the $\pi^0$ angular distributions in the kinematical region of small relative proton momenta revealing there a dominance of proton spinflip transitions associated with $\pi^0$ $s$- and $d$-partial waves and emphasizing the important role of $\pi^0$ d-waves.

Total and differential elastic cross-section data are presented at eight incident π+ momenta: 1.28, 1.34, 1.40, 1.43, 1.55, 1.68, 1.77, and 1.84 GeVc. These data were obtained from a hydrogen-bubble-chamber exposure at the Bevatron, and contain more than 65 000 events. This represents more than 1½ times the world's data hitherto available in this energy region.

Measurements of complete angular distributions of elastic K + p scattering at closely spaced incident momenta from 1368 to 2259 MeV/ c are presented and discussed. A PDP-8 computer controlled system of scintillation counters and core-readout wire spark chambers was used for the detection of elastic events. Diffractive behaviour is already present at the lowest measured momentum and becomes more prominent as the incident momentum increases. An expansion of the angular distributions in terms of Legendre polynomials shows no marked structure of the expansion coefficients as functions of the incident momentum. Our measurements can be adequately described by a number of existing phase shift solutions within 5% of their published values. Also Regge pole extrapolations represent our data satisfactorily.