A study of the reaction K−p→Λπ+π− at c.m. energies in the range 1.65 to 1.72 GeV☆

Abstract Results are presented of a study of the reaction K − p→ Λπ + π − in the c.m. energy region of 1.65 to 1.72 GeV. Dalitz plots indicate that the reaction proceeds primarily through the intermediate states Σ − (1385) π + and Σ − (1385) π + , but the resonance bands intersect inside the kinematic ellipse and a simple quasi-two-body interpretation is not possible. Legendre coefficients are presented for the angular distributions of the Λπ + and Λπ − sub-systems in the overall c.m. frame. Analogous coefficients as suggested by Deler and Valladas, which describe the angular distribution of the final three-body state are also presented.