A comparison of the production of pions and hyperons in nuclear interactions of very high energy

Journal Article · Sun Dec 16 04:00:00 EST 1962 · Nuovo Cimento

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02780350· OSTI ID:4728414

Bowler, M. G.; Fowler, P. H.; Perkins, D. H.

Recently, it was suggested that in nuclear collisions at ultra-high energies (>10⁴ Bev), the production of hyperons, carrying a large part of the primary energy, may become a frequent process. The high-energy pion flux in the atmosphere may then be dominated by pions from decay in flight of such hyperons, rather than pions created directly in the collisions (pionization). This hypothesis was examined in the light of our data on the frequency of soft cascades produced in emulsion, heavy element stacks flown at aircraft altitudes. It is shown that the high-energy pion flux can be well accounted for in terms of direct pion production. The flux from the latter process is always of the same order as, or greater than, the maximum possible pion flux from hyperon decay. Our results at these high energies are consistent with a production probability of hyperons, carrying a large part of the primary energy, no greater than the value observed ( approximates 5%) at accelerator energies (25 Bev). (auth)

• Research Organization: Univ. of Bristol, Eng.
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-17-015297
• OSTI ID: 4728414
• Journal Information: Nuovo Cimento, Journal Name: Nuovo Cimento Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 26; ISSN 0029-6341
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

AIRCRAFT
ATMOSPHERE
BEAMS
DECAY
ENERGY
FREQUENCY
HYPERONS
INTERACTIONS
NUCLEAR EMULSIONS
NUCLEAR STRUCTURE
PHYSICS
PIONS
PRODUCTION
SCATTERING