The reactions π − p → p π − and π − p → p ϱ − ( ϱ − → π − π 0 ) at 10 GeV/ c with the proton in the forward direction in the c.m.s. are discussed on the basis of 953 elastic scattering events and 2240 events of the reaction π − p → p π − π 0 . The total backward cross sections are 0.52±0.10 and 1.52±0.28 μ b, respectively. In both cases the production mechanism is compatible with the dominance of the baryonic Δ δ Regge trajectory exchange. The ϱ − decay angular distributions are studied in the u -channel helicity frame and the spin density matrix elements are presented as functions of u .
Production of B(1235) and ρ(1710) mesons is observed in the four-pion decay modes π+π+π−π0 in 16−GeVc π±p collisions. Decay distributions and branching fractions into various modes are presented. Absence of the two-pion mode π−π0 for the ρ(1710) is noted.
We have studied neutral final states produced in π−p collisions at momenta of 1.71, 1.89, 2.07, 2.27, and 2.46 GeVc, by observing the γ rays emitted. In particular, measurements are presented of (i) π−p→π0n, for which the Regge-pole fit at momenta ≥5.9 GeVc also agrees rather well here; (ii) π−p→η0n, for which the Regge model which fits at higher energies does not agree here; (iii) π−p→π0γn, in which there is some evidence for a diffraction dissociation process as well as ω0-meson production; (iv) π−p→π0π0n, which is dominated by production of N*0(1236)π0 and by peripheral production of pion pairs. In (iv), the former process is found to fit with the same Reggeized ρ-meson exchange model as charge-exchange scattering, while the latter gives indication of the s-wave ππ interaction. An account is given of new techniques, particularly in the data analysis, which were developed in the course of this work.
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