A study of K-π+ scattering in the reaction K-p → K-π+n at 11 GeV/c

Results from a high statistics study of the reaction K-p→K-π+n are presented. These results are based on data obtained with an 11 GeV/c beam using the LASS spectrometer at SLAC. The mass dependence of the spherical harmonic moments provides clear evidence for the production of the complete leading orbitally excited K* series up through JP=5-. These moments are used to perform an energy independent partial wave analysis of the K-π+ system from threshold to 2.6 GeV/c2 using a t-dependent parametrization of the production amplitudes. The amplitudes corroborate the leading K*(892), K2*(1430), K3*(1780), K4*(2060), and K5*(2380) resonances observed directly in the moments, and also provide new evidence for underlying states. The 0+ amplitude contains the K0*(1350) and a second 0+K0*(1950) at higher mass. The 1-K*(1790) seen in earlier two and three-body analyses is confirmed, and evidence is provided for a suppressed K-π+ decay mode of a second 1- state, the K*(1410), which has been seen in earlier three-body analyses. (orig.)