Production of Dimuons in 16-GeV/cπpInteractions and the Observation of a Low-Mass Continuum of Unfamiliar Origin

Abstract

A clear, prompt dimuon signal has been observed in a low-statistics streamer-chamber experiment with 16-GeV/c $\pi p$ interactions. The good mass resolution makes it possible to identify the contributions from $\rho$ and $\omega$ decays and $\eta$ and $\omega$ Dalitz decays. An excess of events is observed in the mass region ∼400-600 MeV which is not accounted for by the above-mentioned decays.