Systematics of exclusive diffraction dissociation modes in K± p interactions at 32 GeV/c

We present results of an investigation of diffraction dissociation in exclusive channels in K± p interactions at 32 GeV/c. Total cross sections are determined for K±→K±π+π-, K±2π+2π-, K0π±π±K±2π+π-, K±K+K-, K±p {Mathematical expression}, {Mathematical expression}p, and p→pπ+π-, p2π+2π-, pK+K-, ΛK+, ΛK+π+π- dissociation modes, ranging from a high of ≃ 300 μb to ∼ 3 μb. The dσ/dt′ differential cross sections of most of the systems studied exhibit structure, with breaks of slope at t′ ∼ 0.2 to 0.5 GeV2; some modes have a sharp forward spike with a slope exceeding 10 GeV-2. A systematic investigation of two-body dissociation modes K→A+B and p→A′+B′ shows that these cross sections decrease with increasing threshold mass MA+MB, that they are comparable for kaon and proton dissociations at similar diffractive excitation masses and are systematically suppressed by a factor 3-4 for dissociations requiring an {Mathematical expression} quark pair creation when compared to {Mathematical expression} pair creation indicating a breakdown of SU3 symmetry for the {Mathematical expression} sea. © 1981 Springer-Verlag.SCOPUS: ar.j