Strange particle production in 8 GeV/c positive pion interactions in hydrogen

Abstract Results are presented on strange particle production in 8 GeV/ c π + p interactions with three and four particles in the final state. Total cross sections for different channels and for production of different resonances are estimated. Differential cross sections for quasi two-body reactions are given. Evidence is presented for the production of a (ΛK) enhancement with a mass of 1755 ± 21 MeV and a full width of 220 ± 60 MeV. Branching ratios for rare decay modes of A 1 , A 2 , f o and f′ into strange particles are given. In the ( K K π ) mass distribution possible enhancements are observed at 1490 and 1690 MeV.