Search for interference between reggeons with different C-parities in proton diffraction dissociation at 16 GeV/c

An experimental search for the effects of interference between reggeons with different C-parities has been carried out at 16 GeV/c in four exclusive reactions of proton diffraction dissociation π±p→π±(3πN)+ where N denotes proton or neutron. The study has been performed on π±p data from the CERN bubble chamber and diffraction dissociation processes have been selected by the Longitudinal Phase Space method. The differential cross-sections have been fitted for each reaction and in combination two by two where cross-over may appear. A constant t' limit, [t']≤0.5(GeV/c)2 has been kept for all fits. The results obtained indicate that the values of the fitted parameters do not change significantly when both sets of cross-sections of the reactions are fitted separately or jointly. Hence, these sets cannot be distinguished by Χ2-criterion and there is no cross-over found between them. This conclusion supports a pomeron exchange dominance in the studied reactions and their charge independence. 4 figs., 1 tab., 4 refs