Pion Production by Protons on a Thin Beryllium Target at 6.4, 12.3, and 17.5 GeV/c Incident Proton Momenta

TL;DR

This paper reports measurements of inclusive pion production cross sections in proton-beryllium collisions at three different proton beam momenta, providing valuable data for particle physics and accelerator applications.

Contribution

It presents new experimental data on pion production cross sections at multiple energies and fits the results with a Sanford-Wang parameterization, enhancing existing models.

Findings

Measured differential cross sections for $mbda^+$ and $mbda^-$ up to 400 mRad and 6 GeV/c.

Provided Sanford-Wang parameterization fits to the data.

Supplied data useful for neutrino beam and accelerator design.

Abstract

An analysis of inclusive pion production in proton-beryllium collisions at 6.4, 12.3, and 17.5 GeV/c proton beam momentum has been performed. The data were taken by Experiment 910 at the Alternating Gradient Synchrotron at the Brookhaven National Laboratory. The differential $\pi^+$ and $\pi^-$ production cross sections ($d^2\sigma/dpd\Omega$) are measured up to 400 mRad in $\theta_{\pi}$ and up to 6 GeV/c in $p_{\pi}$. The measured cross section is fit with a Sanford-Wang parameterization.