Single and double diffractive dissociation in K -p interactions at 32 GeV/ c

Data from a high statistics Mirabelle bubble chamber K ^-p experiment at 32 GeV/ c are used to study inclusive single and double diffraction dissociation. From the reaction K ^-p → K ^- + X we find a total proton single dissociation cross section of 1040 ± 120 μb, with comparable contributions from proton dissociations into 1 and 3 charged particles. There is evidence for double dissociation in K ^-p → (K ^-π⁺π^-) + X ⁺, with cross section of 64 ± 20 μb. Cross sections and {dσ }/{dt' } distributions are in qualitative agreement with the factorization hypothesis. With the results from a companion K ⁺p experiment, the total diffractive cross section (elastic + SD + DD) is estimated. It amounts to ≅4.75 mb, i.e., about 25% of the total KN cross section and about 50% of Pumplin's upper bound for the diffractive cross section. A comparison with ISR data suggests that the total DD cross section increases by ∼2 mb over the c.m. energy range from ∼10 to ∼50 GeV.