Diffractive processes in π-p interactions at 40 GeV/c

Inclusive diffractive processes in π-p interactions have been studied. The experimental material is obtained by means of a two-meter propane bubble chamber irradiated by π--mesons at p=40 GeV/c. From reactions π-p → p+X- and π-p → π-+X+ the total π-meson and proton single diffractive dissociation cross sections are determined: σsub(d)sup(πsup(-))=1.57+-0.16 mb and σsub(dsup(p))=1.62+-0.13 mb, respectively. The average multiplicities of π0 in these processes are also determined. The momentum-transfer distributions to protons in 2- and 4-prong events are described by a simple exponential dependence with slopes b=8.7+-0.9 GeV-2 and b=7.5+-1.2 GeV-2