The Lambda Hyperon Mass And Energy Spectrum From The Nuclear Capture Of Negative K Mesons PDF Download

The multinucleon absorption of K( - ) mesons is studied by searching for fast! hyperons emitted from K( - ) capture stars in normal and in water-soaked Ilford G5 nuclear emulsion. These fast (> 60 mev) hyperons are the only certain indication that a K( - ) meson was absorbed nonmesonically. On the basis of these data and their reasonable similarity with that of Evans et al., it is concluded that the capture of K( - ) mesons by the light emulsion nuclei (C, N, O) is 2.2! .3 times more likely to yield a fast hyperon that is K( - ) capture by Ag and Br. Combining this with the hyperon absorption probabilities deduced from a study of Auger electron emission, the multinucleon K( - ) absorption probability is approximately the same for light and heavy capturing nuclei in nuclear emulsion (excluding hydrogen). Of 56 fast hyperon events, 17 were consistent with K( - ) capture by a light nucleus. By combining these events with those reported by Evans et al., we find when a K( - ) meson is absorbed through a multinucleon channel by C12 and O16, that the basic interaction in 92% of the events is consistent with the destruction of a single particle subunit. The Auger spectrum resulting from capture and subsequent cascade of K( - ) mesons shows evidence for the line structure predicted by conventional theory. (Author).