K/π production ratios from 450 GeV/c protons on beryllium

This paper reports on the charged K / π production ratios and on the shape of the p T distributions of π fluxes measured by the SPY/NA56 experiment for 450 GeV/c proton interactions on beryllium targets. The present data cover a secondary momentum range from 7 GeV/c to 135 GeV/c in the forward direction and with p T values up to 600 MeV/c. An experimental accuracy of about 3% has been achieved. These results will reduce the uncertainty on the estimation of the ν e component of neutrino beams.