Production Properties and Decay Modes of theφMeson

The reaction $K^{-}p\to \Lambda \phi$ has been studied in an exposure of the Lawrence Radiation Laboratory 72-in. bubble chamber to a separated beam of 2.1- to 2.7-BeV/c $K^{-}$ mesons. The decay branching ratios for $K^{+}{K}^{-}$, $K_{}^0{}_1{}^{}K_2^{}{}_{}{}^0$, $\rho \pi$, $\eta \gamma$, $\rho \gamma$, and $\omega \gamma$ have been measured, and the ratio $\beta =\left[\frac{\Gamma (\phi \to K_1^{}{}_{}{}^{0}K_2^{}{}_{}{}^0)}{\Gamma (\phi \to K^{+}{K}^{-})}\right]$ has been used as a test of the $\phi \text{'}\mathrm{s}$ spin. The quantum numbers assigned to the $\phi$, $J^{\mathrm{PG}}=1^{--}$ and $I=0\mathrm{}$, have been confirmed. Production processes were investigated using the correlation-matrix method of Berman and Oakes. The low-momentum (2.1-BeB/c beam momentum) data fit a model of $K$ and $K^{*}$ exchange, but the high-momentum (2.45 to 2.7 BeV/c) data are inconsistent with the model. Also, other final states involving $K\overline{K}$ pairs were investigated and their cross sections measured, but except for the production of the reaction $K^{-}p\to Y_1^{}{}_{}{}^{*}\mathrm{}\left(1385\right)\mathrm{}\phi$, no previously unreported effects were observed.