Counter Telescope Investigations of K Meson Photoproduction and Production of Pion Pairs by 1 Bev Photons

Citation

Ernstene, Marshall Paul (1959) Counter Telescope Investigations of K Meson Photoproduction and Production of Pion Pairs by 1 Bev Photons. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/J7ET-9S50. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-04132005-112003

Abstract

NOTE: Text or symbols not renderable in plain ASCII are indicated by [...]. Abstract is included in .pdf document. A number of counter telescope systems were set up to detect K mesons produced by the photon beam from the California Institute of Technology synchrotron. A common feature of these experiments was the presence of a very large background from other particles, which largely obscured the K mesons. Four methods for separating K's were investigated: observing their decay in a scintillator, and in a Cerenkov counter, detecting the decay products with separate counters, and counting protons from [...] particles produced in association with the K's. Tentative cross section values were obtained, but none of the methods was completely successful. However, the advanced telescope techniques developed here and the experimental arrangements are of interest for future work. The photoproduction of pion pairs was studied by observing protons and charged pions produced simultaneously in a liquid hydrogen target. Protons of a given energy were counted in a five-counter range telescope; energetic pions were detected as they passed through a three-counter array. The reaction yield was measured as a function of peak photon energy, of pion angle, and especially of proton angle. Cross sections obtained by photon differences were compared to the predictions of certain phenomenological models, but statistical uncertainties in the experimental results prevent definite conclusions from being drawn. Further experiments are mentioned which might give more definite information about the mechanism of pion pair production.

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