/π production ratios from 450 GeV/c protons on beryllium

This paper reports on the charged K/pi production ratios and on the shape of the p(T) distributions of pi fluxes measured by the SPY/NA56 experiment for 450 GeV/c proton interactions on beryllium targets. The present data cover a secondary momentum range from 7 GeV/c to 135 GeV/c in the forward direction and with p(T) values up to 600 MeV/c. An experimental accuracy of about 3% has been achieved. These results will reduce the uncertainty on the estimation of the nu(e) component of neutrino beams. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.