Forward inclusive production spectrum ofKS,Λ0,Λ¯0, andnin the collision of 200-GeV/cπ−,K−,p¯, andpon Be

Abstract

We have measured the forward production spectra of various neutral particles produced by ${\pi }^{-}$, $K^{-}$, $\overline{p}$, and $p$ at 200 GeV/c, and by ${\pi }^{-}$ at 290 GeV/c incident on a Be target. The salient features of these measurements are (1) copious production of $K_S^{\mathrm{o}}$ at large Feynman $x_L$ for incident ${\pi }^{-}$ and $K^{-}$, (2) production of roughly equal fluxes of ${\Lambda }^0$ and ${\overline{\Lambda }}^0$ for incident ${\pi }^{-}$, and (3) close similarity of the following spectra: ${\pi }^{-}\to n$ and $K^{-}\to {\Lambda }^0$; ${\pi }^{-}\to {\Lambda }^0$, ${\pi }^{-}\to {\overline{\Lambda }}^0$, and $p\to K_S^0$; ${\pi }^{-}\to K_S^0$ and $p\to {\Lambda }^0$. The overall features of the various distributions seem to agree with the ideas of dimensional counting presented in the constituent-interchange model of quark collisions. Results are presented in terms of the invariant cross section $\frac{E{d}^3\sigma (x_L, P_T=0)}{d{p}^3}$ per Be nucleus for each inclusive reaction.