Comments on “Measurement of the production of charged pions by protons on a tantalum target”

Abstract

Abstract. We argue that the cross-sections reported in the article "Measurement of the production of charged pions by protons on a tantalum target" by M.G. Catanesi et al., published in this journal, result from invalid analysis concepts and should not be trusted.

Cross-sections of large-angle hadron production in proton– and pion–nucleus interactions II: beryllium nuclei and beam momenta from ±3 GeV/c to ±15 GeV/c

“…As discussed in Refs. [4] and [5], and summarized succinctly in the appendix of Ref. [1], our calibrations disagree with those published by the 'HARP Collaboration' [6][7][8][9].…”

Cross-sections of large-angle hadron production in proton– and pion–nucleus interactions VIII: aluminium nuclei and beam momenta from ±3 GeV/c to ±15 GeV/c

“…We hold that the discrepancy is caused by problems in the HARP Collaboration's data analysis, discussed in detail in Refs. [18][19][20][21][22], and summarized in the Appendix of Ref. [2].…”

Cross-sections of large-angle hadron production in proton–and pion–nucleus interactions V: lead nuclei and beam momenta from ±3 GeV/c to ±15 GeV/c

“…These problems, together with others that affect the HARP Collaboration's data analysis, are discussed in detail in Refs. [15][16][17][18][19] and summarized in the Appendix of Ref. [2].…”