Production and decay properties of the D(1285) meson in K$^{-}$p interactions at 4.2 GeV/c

The authors studied the production and decay of the D(1285) meson in the reaction K/sup -/p to Lambda D at an incident K/sup -/ momentum of 4.2 GeV/c. The cross section for this reaction is 11+or-3 mu b and the branching ratios D to KK pi /D to eta pi pi and D to 4 pi /D to eta pi pi are found to be 0.42+or-0.15 and 0.7+or-0.5, respectively. The proportion of D to eta pi /sup +/ pi /sup -/ going through the intermediate delta /sup +or-/ pi /sup -or+/ states is 0.72+or-0.15. Forward and backward exchange mechanisms are found to contribute in the ratio 3:2. (18 refs).