Antiproton-Proton Cross Sections at Small Momenta

Since the startup of LEAR in 1983 we have undertaken a series of measurements of antiproton-proton cross sections for annihilation (pp → mesons)1, charge-exchange reaction (pp → nn)2, and elastic scattering (pp → pp)3,4. We have focussed our efforts of the measurements on the beam momentum range between 160 and 600 MeV/c. Our detector is optimized to handle the antiproton beam at very small momenta5. The liquid hydrogen target is placed in the vacuum tank, and the vacuum is directly connected to the beam line. The incident beam is defined by thin scintillators also placed in the vacuum. With the apparatus of these unique designs we have explored the beam momentum region below 300 MeV/c with…