Inclusive Δ++ production and a test of the triple regge limit

Results on the inclusive reaction π⁺ p→ Δ⁺⁺ X ⁰ at 8, 16 and 23GeV/ c are used for quantitative tests of the triple Regge formula. As predicted, the slopes ofthe missing mass ( M) spectra at fixed t are independent of s. Furthermore the trajectory α( t) obtained from the s-iependence at fixed M appears consistent with that obtained from the M-dependence at fixed s. However, the pomeron intercept overlineα(0) is found to depend on t, suggesting that no single triple Regge diagram dominates at the M and s values studied in this reaction. Provided such a t-dependence is allowed, a single term triple Regge formula gives a very satisfactory parametrisation of our data.