Cross sections of backward proton production in interactions

Abstract The inclusive cross sections of backward proton production in π − ( K − , p ) -Be, Al, Cu, Pb interactions at 40 GeV/ c are presented. Protons have been detected in the angular range 150°–165° and kinetic energy region 0.1–0.3 GeV. The invariant cross-section ratios for various beam particles are independent of the values of kinetic energy and of the nuclear target type: 〈ƒ K − /ƒ π − 〉= 0.87 ± 0.03 stat ± 0.03 syst , 〈ƒ p /ƒ π − 〉 = 1.82 ± 0.10 stat ± 0.05 syst . The A -dependence of the cross-section slope parameter for A ⩾27 is less than ∼2%.