Backward resonance production in pi minus plus proton goes to neutron pi plus pi minus at 8 GeV/c

Abstract

This thesis reports on a study of the interaction n p ~ nn n where the neutron was produced fast and forward in the laboratory. The data were obtained using an 8 GeV/c n beam that was focussed on a liquid hydrogen target located inside the University of Il1inois~Argonne National Laboratory streamer chamber. The chamber was triggered on the interaction of a fast, forward neutral hadron in thick plate optical spark chambers. A total of 866 events had an acceptable 3-constraint fit to n p ~ nn nand satisfied other selection criteria. The data was characterized by backward production of the final states npo, nfo, and delta-(1232)pi+. Differential cross sections and decay angular distributions for these resonant states are presented and the implications for the production mechanisms discussed.