K+pElastic Scattering at 2.53, 2.76, and3.20 GeVc

Abstract

$K^{+}p$ elastic scattering has been studied at incident kaon momenta of 2.53, 2.76, and $3.20 \frac{\mathrm{GeV}}{c}$ in the Argonne 30-in. hydrogen bubble chamber. Differential cross sections are presented for all scattering angles including the backward direction, where we observe anomalous behavior in the magnitude and slope of the backward peak in this momentum interval. The forward and backward peaks are compared with Regge models and with previously published data. Results are presented of a partial-wave analysis performed at $2.5 \frac{\mathrm{GeV}}{c}$. While the results are consistent with previous partial-wave analyses at lower energies, the data cannot establish the existence of a resonance in the $K^{+}p$ system.