Production of the K¯0(890) resonance inπ+p interactions at 16 GeV/c

The inclusive process ..pi../sup +/+P..-->..K /sup asterisk0/(890)+X is studied at 16 GeV/c using a 2-m streamer chamber containing a central liquid hydrogen target. From photographs triggered by detection of a forward K/sup -/ meson, the signal K-bar /sup asterisk0/..-->..K/sup -/..pi../sup +/ is extracted. The inclusive rate for K-bar ( production into the forward hemisphere sigma(x/sub F/>0.3) is 115 +- 27 ..mu..b; the p/sub T/ /sup 2/ distribution is found to have a slope constant of 3.3 +- 0.6 (GeV/c)/sup 2/. The Feynman-x distribution for K-bar /sup asterisk0/ is consistent with a Kuti-Weisskopf model in which the valence and sea quarks of the incident pion interact with only the sea quarks of the target proton.