The s-dependence of double diffraction dissociation of protons at the CERN intersecting storage rings

Abstract We report results on a new measurement of the double diffractive reaction pp → (p π + π − ) (p π + π − ) at the ISR obtained with the Split Field Magnet detector. Experimental procedures and data analysis are discussed in detail. The cross section measured at the five standard ISR energies exhibits an increase of (55 ± 7)% in the s -range from 549 to 3892 GeV 2 .