Inclusive production cross sections of $\pi^\pm$, $K^\pm$ and $p\bar{p}$ per hadronic $e^+e^-$ annihilation event in $e^+e^-$ are measured at a center-of-mass energy of 10.54 GeV, using a relatively small sample of very high quality data from the BaBar experiment at the PEP-II $B$-factory at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. The drift chamber and Cherenkov detector provide clean samples of identified $\pi^\pm$, $K^\pm$ and $p\bar{p}$ over a wide range of momenta. Since the center-of-mass energy is below the threshold to produce a $B\bar{B}$ pair, with $B$ a bottom-quark meson, these data represent a pure $e^+e^- \rightarrow q\bar{q}$ sample with four quark flavors, and are used to test QCD predictions and hadronization models. Combined with measurements at other energies, in particular at the $Z^0$ resonance, they also provide precise constraints on the scaling properties of the hadronization process over a wide energy range.
Differential cross section for prompt PI+-, K+- and PBAR/P production.
Differential cross section for conventional PI+-, K+- and PBAR/P production.
Integrated cross sections for prompt PI+-, K+- and PBAR/P production. The second (sys) error is the uncertainty due to the model dependence of the extrapolation.
A peak in the pK−π+ and p¯K+π− invariant-mass spectra at 2.285±0.006 GeV/c2 is observed, which is associated with the lowest-lying charmed baryon (Λc). A cross section times branching ratio of 0.037±0.012 nb at Ec.m.=5.2 GeV is measured with a substantial fraction of the events produced with an equal recoiling mass. New measurements of inclusive p and Λ cross sections are also presented, allowing an estimate of the branching ratio B(Λc→pK−π+)=0.022±0.010.
THE TOTAL INCLUSIVE CHARMED LAMBDA CROSS SECTION IS DERIVED FROM THE OBSERVED PRODUCTION RATE VIA THE <P K- PI+> CHANNEL USING THE STEP IN INCLUSIVE PROTON PRODUCTION AT THE CHARMED-BARYON THRESHOLD AND REASONABLE ASSUMPTIONS. THE BRANCHING RATIO (LAMBDA/C+ --> P K- PI+) IS THEN 2.2 +- 1.0 PCT.
ACTUALLY TWICE THE INCLUSIVE ANTI-PROTON CROSS SECTION (EACH BARYON PAIR IS COUNTED TWICE).
EACH BARYON PAIR PRODUCED IS OF COURSE COUNTED TWICE IN THIS CROSS SECTION.