Study of inclusive production of π and protons in $$\bar p$$ p interactions at 32 GeV/c.

Results are presented on the inclusive production of π mesons and protons in $$\bar p$$ p interactions at an incident antiproton momentum of 32 GeV/c in the MIRABELLE bubble chamber, based on a sample of 55,000 inelastic events. The spectra of π(π) and p( $$\bar p$$ ) are separated in the whole kinematically admitted region of phase space by a statistical method. The semi-inclusive and inclusive cross sections and the main average characteristics of π and p production are calculated. The invariant differential cross sections are studied as functions of the Fevnman scaling variable x, the rapidity and the transverse momentum. The x distribution of π mesons in the proton fragmentation region does not show any significant contribution from quark exchange or annihilation processes. A possible contribution of hard quark scattering on mesons or baryons is observed for large transverse momenta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]