π−pElastic Scattering at 2.26GeVc

The elastic scattering of negative pions on protons at 2.26 $\frac{\mathrm{GeV}}{c}$ has been studied using the Lawrence Radiation Laboratory 72-in. hydrogen-filled bubble chamber. The elastic scattering cross section is found to be 8.91±0.24 mb. The forward diffraction peak is well fitted by an exponential in the square of the four-momentum transfer, and the slope is found to be 8.8±0.1 Ge${\mathrm{V}}^{-2\mathrm{}}$. The differential cross section is parametrized in terms of three models: optical, strong-absorption, and two-slope. It is found that the two-slope model affords the best description of the data and also does very well in predicting the polarization data of other experiments. The best-fit parameters for all three models are given. In addition, the amplitudes associated with the best fits are given for the strong-absorption and the two-slope models.