Triple-Regge analysis of the reactions π−p→ pslow + X and π−p → πfast− + X at 147 GeV/c☆

Abstract In this paper we present new data for the reactions π − p→p slow +X − and π − p→ π fast − + X + at 147 GeV/ c . This is the first time that experimental information on these two processes has been obtained using the same apparatus at Fermilab energies. The triple-Regge formalism is applied to the differential cross sections d σ /d M x 2 of both reactions using all the data at present available in the literature. A good description of the data is obtained when parameters from a triple-Regge fit of the reaction pp → p + X are used, together with the assumption of factorization of the pomeron and the reggeons. The equality of the d σ /d M x 2 distributions of the two reactions may be explained in terms of an interesting assumption in the framework of the independent quark model and imposes an additional relation between the triple-Regge terms.