Direct soft photon production in K+p and pi+p interactions at 250 GeV/c

Inclusive production of direct soft photons is studied inK+p andK+π interactions at 250 GeV/c. Total cross sections, Feynman-x and transverse momentum distributions of direct γ's are presented. The measured cross sections are several times larger than expected from QED inner bremsstrahlung, indicating the presence of an anomalous soft photon source. The model of Lichard and Van Hove, based on the “cold quark-gluon plasma” picture, agrees with the data.