Experimental investigations in elementary particle physics

Thesis

In the separation of final states contributing to the simple two prong and four prong topologies created by K⁻p collisions (K⁻ beam momentum 3.5 Gec/C) considerable kinematic ambiguity has been found. A device capable of measuring mean gap length has been constructed and used in an attempt to resolve such ambiguities. The limitation of the application of the device is found to be largely attributable to too high an ionization in the primary tracks and some conclusions regarding this quantity have been arrived at. A method of ionization estimation other than that of mean gap length measurement is suggested and shown to lead to better statistical accuracy.

In the three body final states, strong K*⁰(890) and K**⁰(1400) have been observed and their production and decay properties reviewed in the light of the peripheral model. The K**(1400) isotopic spin assignment of ½ has been confirmed as has its spin-parity. Spins higher than 2 were not, however, considered.

Evidence has been found for production of the same resonance in final states of higher multiplicity and estimates of the decay rates of the negatively charged boson into K*π, Kρ, K⁻π⁺π⁻ and Kω as well as into Kπ have been made. The results have been compared with the predictions of SU₃.

The cross-sections of both single and double resonance productions as well as that of the decay of the K**(1400) into K*π have been determined by a maximum likelihood method, and the former processes found to dominate the K⁻pπ⁺π⁻ final state. One of these involving K*⁰(890) production has been found to have some qualitative features characteristic of the Drell process.

Authors: Meadows, B

• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Type of award: DPhil
• Level of award: Doctoral
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford