Partial-wave analysis of backwardly produced three-pion systems in K−p interactions at 4.2 GeV/c

Abstract We report on the results of a partial-wave analysis of the 3π system produced by baryon exchange in the reaction K − p→ Σ − π + π + π − at 4.2 GeV/ c . We confirm the existence of an enhancement in the 1 + S( ϱπ ) wave as previously established from a Dalitz plot analysis of the same data. The phase variation of this wave is found to be consistent with that expected for a resonance and thus the enhancement is identified with A 1 production. No clear signal for this state is found in either the reaction K − p→ Σ + π + π + π − π − or K − p→ Λπ + π − π 0 . We also find production via baryon exchange of the A 2 in all three reactions and the ω and ω ∗ (1975) in the third reaction.