PION-PRODUCTION AT SMALL ANGLES

Pi+ and pi- production cross sections for 800-MeV proton on C and Cu have been measured at laboratory angles of 0-degrees, 3-degrees, 5-degrees, 7-degrees, 10-degrees, 15-degrees, and 20-degrees. Pions were analyzed using the High Resolution Proton Spectrometer (HRS) facility for momenta from 364 to 675 MeV/c. Particle identification was made utilizing a time-of-flight method. We estimate the total systematic and statistical error to be +/- 15% for measurements at 0-degrees and 3-degrees and +/- 10% at other angles. These data have been used to determine the optimum energy and pion production angle for injection into a proposed superconducting accelerator for pions. Protons are the main source of contamination for a pi+ beam. Proton-to-pion ratios are given for laboratory angles of 5-degrees and larger.