Fast proton production in π± Ne at 30 GeV/c

An isospin subtraction technique is used to derive distributions for π±Ne→pΧ with an incident π momentum of 30 GeV/c, using precision bubble chamber measurements. Although final-state protons can only be identified by conventional techniques, i.e. ionization, for pp≤1 GeV/c, this technique allows us to statistically derive inclusive distributions for protons above 1 GeV/c. Combining these distributions with the identified proton distributions, the total inclusive proton distributions are compared with previously reported results at 10 GeV/c. The 10 and 30 GeV/c distributions are essentially identical, despite a factor of 1.7 increase in ECM between the two systems. (orig.)