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.
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.