In a photoproduction experiment using a mean photon energy of 100 GeV we have observed 29±8 Λ c ( Λ c ) charmed-baryon and antibaryon decays in the pK − π + ( p K + π − ) final state. Quasi two-body final states do not contribite significantly to this channel. The mass of the Λ c was measured to be 2281.7±2.7±2.6 MeV/ c 2 and its lifetime 0.18±0.03±0.03 ps. The ratio of Λ c D production, measured in this experiment, is significantly greater than that predicted by photon-gluon fusion and using a Lund model to describe the hadronization. This excess cannot be completely accounted for in this model, even using a Λ c branching fraction in pK π as high as 5%.
Result extrapolated to all lambda/c energies has large model dependent uncertainties.
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