The polarization parameter P has been measured for elastic π + p, K + p and pp scattering at 45 GeV/c. Four-momentum transfer ranges from −0.08 to −1.1 (GeV/) 2 for pp, and from −0.08 to −0.9 (GeV/) 2 for π + p and K + p. The energy dependence of the polarization P ( t ) in π + p and in K + p above 6 GeV/c incident momentum is compatible with interference between pomeron and Regge poles. On the other hand, the polarization in p p elastic scattering decreases faster than ordinary Regge model predictions. This result can be explained by interference between non flip and flip amplitudes of the pomeron, leading to negative values for the polarization.

Measurements of the polarization parameters and angular distributions are reported for π±p elastic scattering at 100 GeV/c and for pp elastic scattering at 100- and 300-GeV/c incident momentum. The π±p data cover the kinematic range 0.18≤−t≤1.10 GeV2 and are in agreement with current Regge-model predictions. The pp data cover the kinematic range 0.15≤−t≤1.10 GeV2 and 0.15≤−t≤2.00 GeV2 at 100 and 300 GeV/c, respectively, and are found to be consistent with absorption-model predictions.

Experimental results are presented for the polarization parameter P 0 in π ± p , K ± p , pp, and p ̄ p elastic scattering at 6 GeV/ c , and in the range of the invariant four-momentum transfer squared − t from 0.05 to ∼ 2.0 (GeV/ c ) 2 .

The polarization parameter in elastic proton-proton scattering has been measured at 0.75, 1.03, 1.32, 1.63, 2.24, and 2.84 GeV by employing a double-scattering technique. An external proton beam from the Brookhaven Cosmotron was focused on a 3 in.-long liquid-hydrogen target and the elastic recoil and scattered protons were detected in coincidence by scintillation counters. The polarization of the recoil beam was determined from the azimuthal asymmetry exhibited in its scattering from a carbon target. This asymmetry was measured by a pair of scintillation-counter telescopes which symmetrically viewed the carbon target. The analyzing power of this system was previously determined in an independent calibration experiment employing a 40%-polarized proton beam at the Carnegie Institute of Technology synchrocyclotron. False asymmetries were cancelled to a high order by periodically rotating the analyzer 180° about the recoil beam line. Spark chambers were utilized to obtain the spatial distribution of the beam as it entered the analyzer; this information allowed an accurate determination of the corrections necessary to compensate for any misalignment of the axis of the analyzer relative to the incident-beam centroid. Values of the polarization parameter as a function of the center-of-mass scattering angle are given for each incident beam energy. The predictions of the Regge theory for polarization in elastic proton-proton scattering and recently published phase-shift solutions are compared with the experimental results. Surprisingly good agreement with the Regge predictions is found despite the low energies involved.

In an experiment at the Argonne Zero-Gradient Synchrotron we have measured values of the polarization parameter P(t) in the elastic scattering of negative pions, positive pions, positive kaons, and protons on protons at several incident laboratory momenta from 2.50 to 5.15 GeVc, and for values of the momentum transfer variable −t from 0.2 to 2.0 (GeVc)2. The final results from p−p elastic scattering presented here extend our knowledge of the polarization to much larger values of −t than the results of previous measurements. Outstanding features revealed by these polarization data include (1) the development of a dip at about −t=0.7 (GeVc)2, with (2) a substantial secondary peak at larger values of −t and (3) the gradual diminution of the maximum polarization with increasing energy. It is possible to fit the t dependence of the experimental results with a simple model. The energy dependence of the polarized cross sections is also discussed.

Data are presented on the polarization parameter in pp and pn elastic scattering at 11.8 GeV/c for four-momentum transfers −t=0.15 to 0.9 GeV2. In contrast to lower energies where the pn polarization is positive, it is slightly negative at 11.8 GeV/c; averaging the data from −t=0.18 to 0.5 GeV2 we find P(pn)=(−0.9±0.5)%, to be compared with P(pp)=(5.6±0.8)%. These data, combined with our previous data at lower energies, show that the I=0 single-flip exchange amplitude has an anomalously rapid energy dependence.

We have measured the polarization parameter for proton-proton elastic scattering at p0 = 6 GeV/c for |t|<0.5 (GeV/c)2 using the polarized proton beam at the Argonne Zero Gradient Synchrotron. These data, together with all previous measurements in this t region, are well fitted by the empirical relation P = (0.481±0.010)(−t)12exp(2.291±0.085)t.

New results are presented from the continuation of an experiment designed to study the polarization in elastic p−p scattering at large four-momentum transfers. A high-intensity unpolarized proton beam of momentum 12.3 GeV/c was incident on a propanediol polarized proton target and both final-state protons were detected and momentum-analyzed in multiwire proportional chamber spectrometers. The measurements spanned the t range 1.5<|t|<6.2 (GeV/c)2. The results are discussed in the framework of optical, exchange, and parton models.

We present herein the initial results of a large-angle elastic p−p polarization experiment which is now in progress at the Argonne ZGS (Zero-Gradient Synchrotron) accelerator. Data for the incident proton momentum of 5.15 GeVc are presented for 30∘≲θc.m.≲90∘. These results, which extend to t≈−4.0(GeVc)2, represent the first high-statistics p−p polarization measurements for |t| values greater than ∼2.5 (GeVc)2. We observe a minimum in the polarization near t=−0.8(GeVc)2, a smooth increase in the polarization until a maximum is attained near t=−1.8(GeVc)2, and then a monotonic decline in the polarization until the value of zero is reached at θc.m.=90∘. The data are analyzed in terms of an optical model.