Observation of very large transverse momentum jets at the CERN pp collider

Abstract The distribution of total tranverse energy ΣE T over the pseudorapidity interval −1 η Δφ =300° has been measured in the UA2 experiment at the CERN p p collider ( s = 540 GeV ) using a highly segmented total absorption caloriter. In the events with very large ΣE T (ΣE T ⪆60 GeV ) most of the transverse energy is found to be contained in small angular regions as expected for high transverse momentum hadron jets. We discuss the properties of a sample of two-jet events with invariant two-jet masses up to 140 GeV c 2 and we measure the cross section for inclusive jet production in the range of jet transverse momenta between 15 and 60 GeV c .