Kaon-Nucleon Total Cross Sections from 0.6 to 2.65 GeV/<i>c</i>

Abstract

Total cross sections of ${K}^{+}$ and ${K}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ mesons on protons and deuterons have been measured in a transmission experiment over the range of laboratory momentum 0.6-2.65 GeV/c. Measurements have been made on ${K}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ at 58 momenta at intervals of 25-50 MeV/c; the experimental accuracy is better than 1% above 700 MeV/c, and the momentum resolution of the beam is \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.6%. Structure is observed in the total cross sections suggesting or confirming ${{Y}_{1}}^{*}$ resonances at masses of 1665, 1768, 1905, 2020, 2250, and 2455 MeV/${\mathit{c}}^{2}$ and ${{Y}_{0}}^{*}$ resonances at masses of 1695, 1819, 1870, 2100, and 2340 MeV/${\mathit{c}}^{2}$. The ${K}^{+}$ measurements are less extensive, and are concentrated in the momentum range below 1.5 GeV/c; the experimental errors are typically \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2 mb. Structure previously reported in the ${K}^{+}p$ and ${K}^{+}d$ total cross sections near a laboratory momentum of 1.2 GeV/c is confirmed. Total cross sections of ${K}^{+}$ and ${K}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ on carbon have been measured at a number of momenta with an accuracy of about \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2%.