A partial-wave analysis of the reaction π−p → K+K−n measured on a polarized target at ∼18 GeV/c

The reaction π − p→K + K − n has been studied on a hydrogen target (27 000 events) at 18.4 GeV/ c and on a polarized target (54 000 events) at 17.2 GeV/ c . A combination of results of both experiments allows a partial-wave analysis of the K + K − system between 1.1 and 1.74 GeV mass without any model assumptions. In general our fits yield unique solutions. Using results of our previous analysis of π + π − final states and assuming the dominance of the positive G -parity states in the K + K − system, the branching ratios BR ( K K /ππ) of partial waves into K K and ππ are determined. The S-wave appears to be mainly a broad e (1300) with BR ( K K /ππ) = 0.068 −0.021 +0.017 . The weak P-wave can be described by a tail of the ϱ(770) with BR ( K K /ππ) = 0.081 −0.025 +0.029 . The D-wave is interpreted in terms of a superposition of f(1270) + A 2 (1310) + f′(1515) resonances. The fit yields BR ( K K /ππ) = 0.069 −0.031 +0.023 for the f(1270) and BR( ππ /all) = 0.027 −0.013 +0.071 for the f′(1515). The F-wave shows the g(1690) meson with BR ( K K /ππ) = 0.191 −0.037 +0.040 . All the above values refer to the t bin between 0.01 and 0.20 (GeV/ c ) 2 . Some results are also given for the high- t region.