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.
We present measurements of the total production rates and momentum distributions of the charmed baryon $\Lambda_c^+$ in $e^+e^- \to$ hadrons at a center-of-mass energy of 10.54 GeV and in $\Upsilon(4S)$ decays. In hadronic events at 10.54 GeV, charmed hadrons are almost exclusively leading particles in $e^+e^- \to c\bar{c}$ events, allowing direct studies of $c$-quark fragmentation. We measure a momentum distribution for $\Lambda_c^+$ baryons that differs significantly from those measured previously for charmed mesons. Comparing with a number of models, we find none that can describe the distribution completely. We measure an average scaled momentum of $\left< x_p \right> = 0.574\pm$0.009 and a total rate of $N_{\Lambda c}^{q\bar{q}} = 0.057\pm$0.002(exp.)$\pm$0.015(BF) $\Lambda_c^+$ per hadronic event, where the experimental error is much smaller than that due to the branching fraction into the reconstructed decay mode, $pK^-\pi^+$. In $\Upsilon (4S)$ decays we measure a total rate of $N_{\Lambda c}^{\Upsilon} = 0.091\pm$0.006(exp.)$\pm$0.024(BF) per $\Upsilon(4S)$ decay, and find a much softer momentum distribution than expected from B decays into a $\Lambda_c^+$ plus an antinucleon and one to three pions.
LAMBDA/C+ differential production rate per hadronic event for the continuum at cm energy 10.54 GeV.
The integrated number of LAMBDA/C+'s per hadronic event for the continuum at cm energy 10.54 GeV.
LAMBDA/C+ differential production rate per UPSILON(4S) decay at cm energy 10.58 GeV.