The total proton-proton cross section (excluding Coulomb scattering) has been measured at energies from 410 Mev up to 2.6 Bev, using external beams from the Cosmotron. Fast counting equipment was used to measure the attenuation of the beams through polyethylene, carbon, and liquid H2 absorbers. At each energy E, σp−p(E, Ω) was measured as a function of the solid angle Ω subtended by the rear counter at the center of the absorber. The total cross section σp−p was obtained by a least squares straight line extrapolation to Ω=0. The measured σp−p as a function of energy rises sharply from 26.5 mb at 410 Mev to 47.8 mb at 830 Mev and then remains approximately constant out to 1.4 Bev, above which energy it decreases gradually to about 42 mb at 2.6 Bev. Using the same equipment and procedure, we have also measured the D2O-H2O difference cross section, called "σp−n," for protons over the same energy range. From a comparison of "σp−n," and σp−p, with the n−p and n−d measurements of Coor et al. at 1.4 Bev, it is apparent that one nucleon is "shielded" by the other in the deuteron. This effect is not present at energies below 410 Mev. Comparing the measured p−p and "p−n" (corrected) cross sections with the results of other high-energy experiments, one may infer the following conclusions: (1) The sharp rise in σp−p from 400 to 800 Mev results from increasing single pion production, which may proceed through the T=32, J=32 excited nucleon state. (2) Above 1 Bev the inelastic (meson production) p−p cross section appears to be approximately saturated at 27-29 mb. (3) The rise in cross section for n−p interaction in the T=0 state, associated with the rise in double pion production, implies that double meson production also proceeds through the T=32 nucleon state. (4) The probable equality of σp−d and σn−d at 1.4 Bev implies the validity of charge symmetry at this energy.

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Measurements have been made of the total cross sections σ(p−p) and σ(p−d) over the laboratory momentum range 1.1 to 8 GeV/c, with relative errors of 0.1%. The absolute accuracies of these cross sections are limited to 0.3% by lack of information which will allow the Coulomb-nuclear interference to be calculated accurately. Values of the total cross sections σ(p−n) and σ(I=0) are deduced by assuming the Glauber correction. Structure is observed in σ(p−p) near a mass value of 2.75 GeV/c2; its interpretation is discussed. σ(I=0) rises rapidly in the range 2.3 to 2.9 GeV/c2, and this is attributed to the onset of strong inelastic scattering.

Differential cross sections as a function of momentum are presented for the production of K+ mesons in p−p collisions at incident proton energies of 2.54, 2.88, and 3.03 GeV. The measurements were made at 20°, 30°, and 40° relative to the direction of the internal proton beam of the Princeton-Pennsylvania accelerator. At 2.54 GeV, the results follow closely the predictions from phase space (with 60% K+ΣN and 40% K+Λp in the final state). At 2.88 and 3.03 GeV, however, there is a definite disagreement with phase space. The data are compared to the predictions of three models: (1) a model based on the assumption that K's are produced via p+p→K++X+, where X+ is a B=2, S=−1 resonance which decays into a nucleon+hyperon; (2) the isobar model; and (3) the one-pion-exchange model. Model (1) is found to be inconclusive, model (2) is inadequate, and model (3) is partly successful in predicting total cross sections, but not in interpreting the detailed experimental observations.

Inelastic electron proton scattering has been measured by detecting the scattered electron, thus obtaining the total absorption cross section for virtual photons. Two complete spectra from threshold to a pion nucleon mass of W = 2 GeV were taken at θ e = 48.3° and fixed primary energies of 3.963 GeV and 5.159 GeV, respectively, corresponding to a momentum transfer at the first resonance of q 2 = 3.98 (GeV/ c ) 2 and q 2 = 5.84 (GeV/ c ) 2 . In addition, a measurement at θ e = 47.9° and at a primary energy of 3.306 GeV in the region of the first resonance is reported.

The total and elastic cross sections for antineutrons on protons have been measured for antineutron momenta from 0.5 to 2.5 GeV/c. The results are in agreement with previous p¯p data at these momenta.

The np and nd total cross sections have been measured directly with a neutron beam with momenta of 4.0 ± 0.6 and 5.7 ± 0.6 GeV/ c . The data are compared with the previous nucleon-nucleon and nucleon-deuteron results, and the deuteron screening term was also evaluated. The measured total cross section are 43.1 ± 0.6 and 80.3 ± 1.9 mb at 4.0 GeV/ c and 42 ± 0.6 and 77.8 ± 1.3 mb at 5.7 GeV/ c .

Photoproduction is studied at 2.8 and 4.7 GeV using a linearly polarized monoenergetic photon beam in a hydrogen bubble chamber. We discuss the experimental procedure, the determination of channel cross sections, and the analysis of the channel γp→pπ+π−. A model-independent analysis of the ρ0-decay angular distribution allows us to measure nine independent density-matrix elements. From these we find that the reaction γp→pρ0 proceeds almost completely through natural parity exchange for squared momentum transfers |t|<1 GeV2 and that the ρ production mechanism is consistent with s-channel c.m. helicity conservation for |t|<0.4 GeV2. A cross section for the production of π+π− pairs in the s-channel c.m. helicity-conserving p-wave state is determined. The ρ mass shape is studied as a function of momentum transfer and is found to be inconsistent with a t-independent Ross-Stodolsky factor. Using a t-dependent parametrization of the ρ0 mass shape we derive a phenomenological ρ0 cross section. We compare our phenomenological ρ0 cross section with other experiments and find good agreement for 0.05<|t|<1 GeV2. We discuss the discrepancies in the various determinations of the forward differential cross section. We study models for ρ0 photoproduction and find that the Söding model best describes the data. Using the Söding model we determine a ρ0 cross section. We determine cross sections and nine density-matrix elements for γp→Δ++π−. The parity asymmetry for Δ++ production is incompatible with simple one-pion exchange. We compare Δ++ production with models.

We have remeasured the total cross section for proton-proton scattering at 2-6 GeV/c in the spin states ↑↑ and ↑↓ perpendicular to the beam direction. With the reduced errors significant differences were found between the two cross sections.