Measurement of the cross section for the reactionπ−p→(allneutrals)from 4.0 to 8.0 GeV/c

The cross section for the reaction ${\pi }^{-}p\to \left(\mathrm{all}\mathrm{neutrals}\right)$ has been measured at 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 GeV/c. The cross section varies with beam momentum as $p_{\mathrm{lab}}^{}{}_{}{}^{-1.4\mathrm{}}$. The analysis is based on data obtained during an experiment studying the reaction ${\pi }^{-}p\to n{K}_1^0{K}_1^0$ at 6 and 7 GeV/c using the Argonne National Laboratory 1.5-meter streamer chamber. An independent value for the all-neutral cross section at 8.05 GeV/c has been obtained from an exposure in the Brookhaven National Laboratory 80-in. hydrogen bubble chamber and is quite consistent with the result from the purely electronic measurement.