A sample of 1200 ϕ mesons produced in the Zweig-rule-forbidden reactions π±N→ϕN shows a flat t distribution (slope=1.7 ± 0.2 GeV−2) and a cross section suppressed by 0.0032±0.0004 relative to π−p→ωn. Natural-parity-exchange ω and ϕ production have similar t dependences, while ω and ϕ production by unnatural-parity exchange differ markedly. Interference between the ϕ and the underlying K¯K S wave indicates substantial nucleon-spin incoherence between the amplitudes for ϕ and S-wave production.
Axis error includes +- 10/10 contribution (RES-DEF(RES=PHI,BACK=CORRECTED)).
Axis error includes +- 10/10 contribution (RES-DEF(RES=PHI,BACK=CORRECTED)).
STATISTICAL ERRORS ONLY.