Analysis of the charge exchange reaction K++p → K0 + n

A detailed analysis of the data concerning the reaction K+ + p → K0 + n has been undertaken in order to deduce the behaviour with energy of the total cross-section and the angular distribution of the differential cross-section. It is found that the best fit for the data, corrected for all effects in nuclei, indicate that the total charge-exchange cross-section increases with about the third power of the c.m. momentum. An analysis of the secondary prongs of the K-nucleus events leading to charge-exchange gives indications that the differential cross-section is peaked backward in the c.m. system. These data do not seem to fit with the theoretical formulae based on a KKπ-interaction. Further, different theoretical interpretations are discussed with the aim of seeing if they are adequate to explain the preceding behaviour of the charge-exchange reaction.