K−pBackward Scattering from 1 to 2.5 GeV/c

Abstract

Elastic scattering of $K^{-}$ mesons from protons in the backward direction has been measured to high accuracy in the momentum interval from 1.0 to 2.5 GeV/c. The cross sections exhibit a very fast decrease as a function of energy given by $\frac{d\sigma }{\mathrm{du}}\sim s^{-10\mathrm{}}$. The data can be fitted either by a superposition of the known resonant amplitudes in the $K^{-}p$ system, or by postulating the existence of a $Z^{*}$ Regge trajectory.