Double prompt photon production at high transverse momentum byπ− on protons at 280 GeV/c

A search for pairs of highpT prompt photons produced in hydrogen by a 280 GeV/c incidentπ- beam has been carried out using a fine-grained electromagnetic calorimeter and the Omega spectrometer at the CERN SPS. Clear evidence for the existence of such events is found with a six standard deviation signal forp T >3.0 GeV/c. The cross-sections are consistent with beyond leading order QCD calculations. A discussion on the determination of α s is also presented.