A study of the forward production of charm states and prompt muons in 350 GeV p-Fe and 278 GeV π--Fe interactions

The forward production of charm states in 350 GeV p-Fe and 278 GeV π--Fe interactions has been studied via the production of prompt single muons with momentum P>20 GeV/c. The data indicate equal production of single μ+ and μ- in proton interactions, and a large asymmetry in pion interactions. The observed momentum distributions of the prompt single muons can be satisfactorily fitted by the hypothesis that D mesons are produced with an invariant cross section proportional to (1-x)sup(n), and do not favor large diffractive cross sections predicted by intrinsic charm models. The total cross sections and the x dependence of the forward production of charm states are extracted for D's and anti D's in proton and pion interactions. (author)