The prong-number distributions in$$\bar pp$$ collisions at relatively low laboratory momenta (≾7 GeV/c) exhibit the same type of scaling which has been observed in pp and π-N collisions at momenta ≿ 50 GeV/c.

We attempt a general phenomenological analysis of the neutral weak current in the inclusive neutrino reactions using the parton model as a tool. From the recently reported data on these processes we determine the strengthH of the neutral-current interaction as well as the amount of theVA interference. We find (H/G)²=0·54±0·06 whereG is the Fermi coupling constant and theVA interference contribution turns out to be 33±23%. We also discuss the comparison of the data with various models for the neutral hadronic current.

In order to reconcile the life time of the new particle observed in the cosmic ray neutrino experiment with its production rate, it is proposed that the particle has a new quantum number (κ) which may be assigned to leptons and hadrons. In the production of the new particle, assumed to be a heavy charged lepton,κ is conserved by creating an associated lepton-hadron pair. Suppression of theκ-violating interaction is invoked to interpret the long life time of this particle.

We show that experimental data on inclusive neutrino reactions can be used to obtain general bounds on the coupling constants of the isovector part of the hadronic weak neutral current provided this isovector current is related to the charged current by isospin rotation. These bounds are free from the assumption of a specific model for the neutral current as well as any dynamical assumption on the hadronic structure functions. We derive upper bounds on the coupling constants which involve only the cross sections for isospin-averaged nucleon target as well as lower bounds which require a knowledge of the cross sections for proton and neutron separately.

The possible presence of anI=0 axial vector piece in the hadronic neutral current may be detected by looking for an asymmetry in the emission of the recoil deuterons in elastic scattering of neutrinos or antineutrinos on polarized deuterons. It is estimated that this asymmetry could be about 40% with the incident neutrinos in the energy range of tens of MeV.

We give plausible interpretations of the unusual events seen in the proton decay detector at Kolar Gold Fields indicating the existence of a massive (≳2GeV) long lived (10⁻⁸−10⁻⁹s) particle. We show that it is possible to accommodate the particle in the standard model as a fourth generation neutrino, or inE₆ grand unified theory as a neutral fermion occurring in27 representation or in supersymmetric theory as a scalar neutrino. However, there is a difficulty in explaining the large production rate for the particle.