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Experimental Study of Antiproton-Proton Annihilation into a Pair of Charged Pi-Mesons or K-Mesons for Incident Antiproton Momenta in the Range from 0.72 GeV/c to 2.62 GeV/c.

Citation

Fong, Douglas Gun (1968) Experimental Study of Antiproton-Proton Annihilation into a Pair of Charged Pi-Mesons or K-Mesons for Incident Antiproton Momenta in the Range from 0.72 GeV/c to 2.62 GeV/c. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/CDVE-EF65. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:12072015-145005971

Abstract

The cross sections for the two antiproton-proton annihilation-in-flight modes,

ˉp + p → π+ + π-

ˉp + p → k+ + k-

were measured for fifteen laboratory antiproton beam momenta ranging from 0.72 to 2.62 GeV/c. No magnets were used to determine the charges in the final state. As a result, the angular distributions were obtained in the form [dσ/dΩ (ΘC.M.) + dσ/dΩ (π – ΘC.M.)] for 45 ≲ ΘC.M. ≲ 135°.

A hodoscope-counter system was used to discriminate against events with final states having more than two particles and antiproton-proton elastic scattering events. One spark chamber was used to record the track of each of the two charged final particles. A total of about 40,000 pictures were taken. The events were analyzed by measuring the laboratory angle of the track in each chamber. The value of the square of the mass of the final particles was calculated for each event assuming the reaction

ˉp + p → a pair of particles with equal masses.

About 20,000 events were found to be either annihilation into π ±-pair or k ±-pair events. The two different charged meson pair modes were also distinctly separated.

The average differential cross section of ˉp + p → π+ + π- varied from ~ 25 µb/sr at antiproton beam momentum 0.72 GeV/c (total energy in center-of-mass system, √s = 2.0 GeV) to ~ 2 µb/sr at beam momentum 2.62 GeV/c (√s = 2.64 GeV). The most striking feature in the angular distribution was a peak at ΘC.M. = 90° (cos ΘC.M. = 0) which increased with √s and reached a maximum at √s ~ 2.1 GeV (beam momentum ~ 1.1 GeV/c). Then it diminished and seemed to disappear completely at √s ~ 2.5 GeV (beam momentum ~ 2.13 GeV/c). A valley in the angular distribution occurred at cos ΘC.M. ≈ 0.4. The differential cross section then increased as cos ΘC.M. approached 1.

The average differential cross section for ˉp + p → k+ + k- was about one third of that of the π±-pair mode throughout the energy range of this experiment. At the lower energies, the angular distribution, unlike that of the π±-pair mode, was quite isotropic. However, a peak at ΘC.M. = 90° seemed to develop at √s ~ 2.37 GeV (antiproton beam momentum ~ 1.82 GeV/c). No observable change was seen at that energy in the π±-pair cross section.

The possible connection of these features with the observed meson resonances at 2.2 GeV and 2.38 GeV, and its implications, were discussed.

Item Type:Thesis (Dissertation (Ph.D.))
Subject Keywords:(Physics)
Degree Grantor:California Institute of Technology
Division:Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy
Major Option:Physics
Thesis Availability:Public (worldwide access)
Research Advisor(s):
  • Pine, Jerome
Thesis Committee:
  • Unknown, Unknown
Defense Date:13 March 1968
Additional Information:P. 4 missing in thesis.
Record Number:CaltechTHESIS:12072015-145005971
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:12072015-145005971
DOI:10.7907/CDVE-EF65
Default Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:9312
Collection:CaltechTHESIS
Deposited By:INVALID USER
Deposited On:10 Dec 2015 20:39
Last Modified:02 Apr 2024 17:25

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