Approximately 350 A 2 + events have been observed in the reaction π + p → K + K S 0 p ( K S 0 → π + π − ) at an incident π + laboratory momentum of 12.7 GeV/ c . The events are distributed over a range of four-momentum transfer squared 0.01 ⩽ − t ⩽ 0.60 (GeV/ c ) 2 and K + K S 0 mass 1.11 ⩽ m K + K S 0 ⩽ 1.51 GeV . A Breit-Wigner fit to the mass spectrum yields a mass for the A 2 + , m A 2 + = 1.324 ± 0.005 GeV, and a width Γ 0 = 0.110 ± 0.018 GeV. We find a cross section σ ( π + p → A 2 + p) = 1.71 ± 0.30 μb referring to the above-mentioned mass and t range and A 2 + → K + K S O with K S 0 → π + π − . The spin-space density matrix in the Gottfried-Jackson frame is practically saturated by ϱ 11 ⋍ ϱ 1−1 = 1 2 suggesting natural parity exchanges only. There is a forward dip in the angular distribution consistent with dominance of s -channel net helicity flip amplitudes and ϱ and f Regge exchanges suffice to describe adequately our differential cross sections.
SUBTRACTED BACKGROUND IS PHASE SPACE. FITTED D(SIG)/DT SLOPE IS 9.5 +- 0.9 GEV**-2.
SUBTRACTED BACKGROUND IS AN S-WAVE WITH SLOPE OF 8 GEV**-2. FITTED D(SIG)/DT SLOPE IS 6.9 +- 0.6 GEV**-2.
FROM D(SIG)/DT. ERROR INCLUDES 15 PCT SCALE ERROR ADDED QUADRATICALLY.
The major production channels of four-prong final states resulting from π+p interactions at a center-of-mass energy of 4.5 GeV are studied. In addition to total production cross sections, comprehensive listings of partial and resonance production cross sections are also given for each final state of interest. All final states, including nπ+π+π+π−, are found to exhibit copious resonance production.
PARTIAL CROSS SECTIONS FROM PI+ P --> PI+ P PI+ PI-.
PARTIAL CROSS SECTIONS FROM PI+ P --> PI+ P PI+ PI- PI0.