Strange particle production with $\Sigma^{-} \pi^{-}$ and neutrons in hyperon experiment WA89 at CERN

Inclusive differential cross sections for 19 strange particles production in high-energy Sigma /sup -/C, pi /sup -/ and neutron induced interactions are measured by the experiment WA89 at CERN. Secondary Sigma /sup -/ and pi /sup -/ beams with average momenta of 343 GeV/c and a neutron beam of 260 GeV/c were produced by primary protons of 450 GeV/c from the CERN SPS. A strong leading effect is seen for hyperons produced by Sigma /sup -/. At p/sub t//sup 2/ values above 1 (GeV/c)/sup 2/ the differential production cross- section shows a marked increase compared to the usually observed Gaussian behaviour of d sigma /dp/sub t//sup 2/. The important observation was done about the "non-thermal" behavior of the p/sub t //sup 2/ spectrum of the strange particles produced. Comprehensive studies were done for V/sup 0/V/sup 0/ pair production in one event. A clear observation of a different production mechanism of two Lambda /sup 0/ in the same event is the most remarkable result of pair production study. (14 refs).