Further study of the E/f (1420) meson in central production.

We have studied the reactions $$({{\pi ^ + } \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{\pi ^ + } p}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} p})p \to ({{\pi ^ + } \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{\pi ^ + } p}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} p})(K\bar K\pi )p$$ where the $$K\bar K\pi $$ system is centrally produced, at 85 GeV/c and 300 GeV/c using the CERN Omega spectrometer. A spin-parity analysis of the K K π system shows the presence of a strong J=1 signal which we identify as the E/f (1420) meson. We also find evidence for the decay E/f(1420)→ K K π which determines the C-parity of this state to be positive. Alternative explanations of the data have been tested and ruled out. Hence we obtain the quantum numbers of the E/f (1420) to be I(J)=0(1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]