The interaction and decay of K- mesons in photographic emulsion - Part I. General characteristics of K--Interactions and analysis of events in which a charged π-meson is emitted

A total of 3,480 K/sup -/-mesons were observed. Of these, 445 interact in flight, at a mean energy of 40 Mev and only their general characteristics were studied. Little difference was observed between the number of unstable charged particles ( SIGMA plus or minus -hyperons and pi plus or minus -mesons) in these interactions and those in the 3,035 interactions at rest. The 3,035 K/sup - /-interactions at rest were studied in detail. The results on those interactions in which pi -mesons are emitted are given. An estimate of the SIGMA -hyperon nuclear potential is based on the energy spectrum of pi -mesons emitted in the K/ sup -/-interactions in which the only charged particles emitted are a pi meson and a SIGMA -hyperon. A detailed examination of ihe angular distribution of 2- pronged events, and of the sign ratio of the pi -mesons, the prong distribution and energy release in all events led to an estimate of the probabilities of absorption of positive and negative SIGMA hyperons in the parent nucleus, and to a partition of the events between the various primary reactions. (auth)