Two-Pion Production in Proton-Proton Collisions with Polarized Beam

TL;DR

This study measures two-pion production in polarized proton-proton collisions at around 750-800 MeV, providing detailed cross sections and analyzing power data that challenge existing theoretical predictions.

Contribution

It introduces a novel experimental setup with delayed pulse technique enabling comprehensive particle kinematics and analyzes polarization effects in two-pion production.

Findings

Significant analyzing power values up to 0.3 observed.

Data differ from theoretical predictions, indicating need for model refinement.

High-precision total and differential cross sections obtained.

Abstract

The two-pion production reaction $\vec{p}p\to pp\pi^+\pi^-$ was measured with a polarized proton beam at $T_p \approx$ 750 and 800 MeV using the short version of the COSY-TOF spectrometer. The implementation of a delayed pulse technique for Quirl and central calorimeter provided positive $\pi^+$ identification in addition to the standard particle identification, energy determination as well as time-of-flight and angle measurements. Thus all four-momenta of the emerging particles could be determined with 1-4 overconstraints. Total and differential cross sections as well as angular distributions of the vector analyzing power have been obtained. They are compared to previous data and theoretical calculations. In contrast to predictions we find significant analyzing power values up to $A_y$ = 0.3.