Production of rho0 and f in π-p interactions at 16 GeV/c and separation into fragmentation and central components

The production of rho0(770) and f(1270) is studied in π-p interactions at 16 GeV/c. By comparison with inclusive K*0 production in the reaction K-p→K*0 + anything, and with inclusive rho0 production in the reaction pp→rho0 + anything, it is found that the data can be interpreted in terms of two production processes: the central production of resonances and the fragmentation of the beam particle. For the π-p reaction, the inclusive rho0 beam fragmentation cross section is 3.1 +- 0.3 mb while that for central production is 1.6 +- 0.5 mb. The rho0 central production cross section is consistent with increasing with energy as ln s behaviour. The ratio of rho0 to π- inclusive cross sections (excluding the leading π-) is approximately 0.2, independent of energy. The rho0 to π- ratio increases as a function of psub(T) to a constant value of approximately 1/2 above 1 GeV/c. The rho (charged and neutral) and f decays account for (25+-4)% and (1.4+-0.3)%, respectively, of all pions produced. (Auth.)