We report on measurements of the inclusive production rate of Sigma+ and Sigma0 baryons in hadronic Z decays collected with the L3 detector at LEP. The Sigma+ baryons are detected through the decay Sigma+ -> p pi0, while the Sigma0 baryons are detected via the decay mode Sigma0 -> Lambda gamma. The average numbers of Sigma+ and Sigma0 per hadronic Z decay are measured to be: < N_Sigma+ > + < N_Sigma+~ > = 0.114 +/- 0.011 (stat) +/- 0.009 (syst), < N_Sigma0 > + < N_Sigma0~ > = 0.095 +/- 0.015 (stat) +/- 0.013 (syst). These rates are found to be higher than the predictions from Monte Carlo hadronization models and analytical parameterizations of strange baryon production.
The total and differential cross sections of the reactions K − p → π 0 Λ (1520), ηΛ(1520) and η′ Λ(1520) have been measured. Prominent forward peaks are onserved in all three reactions. The first reaction shows also a backward peak. The spin density matrix elements of the Λ(1520) in this reaction are determined. For forward production the results show a remarkable alignment of the Λ(1520) corresponding to an M2 transition in the model of Stodolsky-Sakurai for 3 2 − baryon production.