Pion-Proton Elastic Scattering from 3 GeV/cto 5 GeV/c

Results of a spark chamber experiment on elastic scattering of pions on protons are presented and analyzed. The processes studied were ${\pi }^{+}p$ at 2.92 GeV/c, and ${\pi }^{-}p$ at 3.15, 4.13, and 4.95 GeV/c. The data are fitted to an exponential function of the four-momentum transfer, $t$, in several different ways in attempts to explore systematic energy and angular dependences. No shrinkage of the diffraction peak is seen in comparing the coefficients of a linear exponential fit for $\mathrm{}\left|t\right|<0.4\mathrm{}$ ${(\mathrm{G}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{V}/\mathit{c})}^2$; at larger $\mathrm{}\left|t\right|\mathrm{}$, however, the cross section falls off with increasing energy. The large-angle differential cross section is examined for structure and is compared with all other large angle scattering data. The results are compared with proton-proton scattering data over the same energy range and substantial differences between the two processes are evident.