Decay angular distributions of p[pi]- states formed in diffraction dissociation of neutrons on carbon

Abstract

We present decay angular distributions of the p[pi]- system formed from the interactions of 25-30 GeV/c neutrons on a carbon target. The data are studied as afunction of t', which allows a partial separation of coherent and incoherent events. It is found that the coherent production goes substantially into p[pi]- states with and is consistent with pure . We are not able to draw any firm conclusions about the question of helicity conservation from the data. There is no evidence for coherent production of the known resonances. Comparison is made of the data with predictions of the Drell-Hiida-Deck and double Regge models. In their present form these models do not appear to give satisfactory descriptions of the data.