Simple Behavior of Primary Cross Sections for Low Mass Particles in p-pbar Collisions at y=0 and sqrt(s)=1.8 TeV

TL;DR

This paper presents measurements of primary inclusive cross sections for various particles produced in p-pbar collisions at 1.8 TeV, revealing exponential mass dependence and consistent production characteristics across different energies and collision types.

Contribution

It introduces a method to correct for secondary decay contributions, providing a unified description of primary cross sections with an exponential mass dependence and consistent production parameters across energies.

Findings

Primary cross sections follow an exponential in particle mass.

No significant strangeness or charm suppression observed.

Production characteristics are consistent across different energies and collision types.

Abstract

A set of inclusive cross sections at zero rapidity is presented for p-pbar interactions at center of mass energy sqrt(s)=1.8 TeV. Six particle cross sections are corrected for secondary contributions from decays of higher mass resonances in order to produce a set of primary cross sections. The primary cross sections per spin state are well described by d(sigma^p)/dy|_(y=0)= 0.721*(pi*lambdabar_(pi)^2)*exp(-m/T), where m is the particle rest mass, T=hbar*c/r_h, and r_h=0.97 fm. The deuterium production cross section is also described if r_h is replaced by r_A=r_h*A^(1/3). The same exponential in m and T describes primary charm fractions in e+e- collisions at least up to the J/Psi mass. There is no significant evidence for strangeness or charm suppression if only primary production of light hadrons is considered. There is evidence that the primary cross section for each particle may have the same value for pp and pbar-p collisions and that it may have nearly constant values between sqrt(s)=63 GeV and sqrt(s)=1800 GeV. Fits to the final state transverse momenta of the particles using a gas model favor a temperature T=132 MeV, a chemical potential mu=129 MeV, and a transverse flow of the gas with beta_f=0.27.