The High-Energy Interaction of Negative Pions on Deuterium in the Fnal Thirty Inch Bubble Chamber.

The results of an experiment to study inclusive processes of charged particles produced in the (pi)('-)d interaction at 360 GeV/c is presented. The experiment is described in detail. The total cross sections and charged multiplicity distributions for (pi)('-)d and (pi)('-)n are presented. Moments of the distributions are calculated and studied as a function of laboratory momentum and in terms of KNO scaling. A significant fraction of double scattering is observed within the deuteron. The double scattering probability, multiplicity distribution and associated moments are studied. Several double scattering models are compared to the data.('). Inclusive charged pion production in the (pi)(' -)n interaction is presented. The energy dependence of pion production is studied in the target fragmentation and central regions. Energy related behavior of the invariant cross sections and the implications for Regge-Mueller theory are considered. The ratio of (pi)('-) to (pi)('+) production is studied and compared with lower energy data and the predictions of several prevailing models. The inclusive production of protons in the (pi)(' -)n interaction is analyzed. Using one-pion-exchange theory the (pi)('-)(pi)('-) scattering is derived from the inclusive reaction (pi)('-) n (--->) pX('--) for the region (VBAR)t(,np)(VBAR) (LESSTHEQ) 1.0 (GeV/c)('2). The (pi)('-)(pi)('-) total cross sections, average charged multiplicity, <n(,ch)>(,(pi)(pi)), and dispersion, D(,(pi)(pi)), are determined. The results are studied as a function of s(,(pi)(pi)) and compared to existing experimental results and several Regge and quark theory predictions.