Comparison of Muon-Pair Production to the Quark-Antiquark Annihilation Model

Abstract

New data on muon-pair production at 225 GeV/c by ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$, ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}$, and proton beams are analyzed with regard to the production mechanism. The observed spin alignment of the pair and the dependence of the cross section on beam-particle type are strong indications that the production is through electromagnetic quark-antiquark annihilation.