DIFFERENTIAL CROSS SECTION AND POLARIZATION IN REACTION PI++P-]K++SIGMA+ FROM 3 TO 7 GEV/C

We have measured the differential cross section and polarization for the reaction π++p→K++I+ for K laboratory angles between 3°and 17°. The reaction is dominated by a large forward peak which shrinks rapidly and decreases slowly in size with increasing energy. A break in this exponential occurs at -t=0.4 (GeV/c)2 beyond which the cross section falls much more slowly. The polarization is small for values of -t less than 0.3 beyond which it becomes large and positive and remains positive to the largest angles measured. It is independent of energy within experimental errors. © 1969 The American Physical Society.