Study of inclusive production of π± and protons in {Mathematical expression}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−) andp(\(\bar p\)) 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 andp production are calculated. The invariant differential cross sections are studied as functions of the Fevnman scaling variablex, the rapidity and the transverse momentum. Thex 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.