Cross-Sections of Large-Angle Hadron Production in Proton- and Pion-Nucleus Interactions III: Tantalum Nuclei and Beam Momenta from +/-3 Gev/c to +/-15 Gev/c

TL;DR

This paper presents detailed measurements of secondary particle production in proton and pion interactions with tantalum nuclei across a range of beam momenta, aiding neutrino factory design.

Contribution

It provides new double-differential cross-section data for secondary particles from tantalum, expanding understanding of hadron production at these energies.

Findings

Cross-section data covers angles 20-125 degrees.

Results span beam momenta from +/-3 to +/-15 GeV/c.

Data supports optimization of neutrino factory proton drivers.

Abstract

We report on double-differential inclusive cross-sections of the production of secondary protons, charged pions, and deuterons, in the interactions with a 5% nuclear interaction length thick stationary tantalum target, of proton and pion beams with momentum from +/-3 GeV/c to +/-15 GeV/c. Results are given for secondary particles with production angles between 20 and 125 degrees. They are of particular relevance for the optimization of the design parameters of the proton driver of a neutrino factory.