Single-particle distributions in inclusive π-p reactions at 10.0 and 15.5 GeV/c

Single-particle distributions have been measured at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center for the inclusive processes π±p→π+X and π±p→π-X at 10.0 and 15.5 GeV/c. The kinematic range for secondary pions was pT=0.15 GeV/c to 0.9 GeV/c and x=0 to 0.5. The differential cross sections have been assumed to be slowly varying and have been fitted to smooth functions of x and pT. Cross sections have been obtained for all incoming and outgoing pion charges. The cross sections for the reactions with incident and outgoing pions of like charge are higher than those for unlike charge, but have similar shape. The cross section as a function of the rapidity is plotted together with that of p p inclusive scattering at CERN ISR energies, for the purpose of comparing pion and proton fragmentation.