Comparison of Lambda and Sigma0 threshold production in proton proton collisions.

Sewerin, S. ; Schepers, G. ; Balewski, J.T. ; et al.
Phys.Rev.Lett. 83 (1999) 682-685, 1999.
Inspire Record 478929 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.42059

Threshold measurements of the associated strangeness production reactions pp --> p K(+) Lambda and pp --> p K(+) Sigma(0) are presented. Although slight differences in the shapes of the excitation functions are observed, the most remarkable feature of the data is that at the same excess energy the total cross section for the Sigma(0) production appears to be about a factor of 28 smaller than the one for the Lambda particle. It is concluded that strong Sigma(0)-p final state interactions, and in particular the Sigma-N --> Lambda-p conversion reaction, are the likely cause of the depletion for the yield in the Sigma signal. This hypothesis is in line with other experimental evidence in the literature.

1 data table

The given errors are statistical only. The cross section presented as a function of the nominal excess energy.