Prism plot analysis of the reaction π−p→pπ+π−π− at 16 GeV/c

Abstract A prism plot analysis of the reaction π − p→p π + π − π − at 16 GeV/ c has been made and the results are compared with those obtained in a similar analysis of the reaction π + p→ p π + π + π − at the same energy. The three dominating reaction mechanisms (pion dissociation, reggeon exchange, proton diffraction dissociation) appear to be well separated, while considerable residual overlaps are present inside these classes. The prism plot method is discussed as a means for detecting hidden structures and some evidence is presented for a broad three-pion enhancement around 2 GeV decaying primarily into ϱ 0 π − .