f*Production inK−pInteractions at 5.5. GeV/c

The $f^{*}$ meson was observed, with a partial cross section of 14±4 μb, in the reaction $K^{-}+p\to \Lambda +f^{*}$, at 5.5 GeV/c. Its mass was measured as 1515±7 MeV, with a width of 35±25 MeV, considerably narrower than previously measured. The decay into $K\overline{K}$ was the dominant mode, with no significant evidence for decay into $\pi \pi \eta$, $\pi \pi$, $K^{*}\overline{K}$, or ${\overline{K}}^{*}K$. The production and decay angular distributions are presented and analyzed in terms of the spin-density matrix formalism.