K- absorption in nuclei by two and three nucleons

TL;DR

This paper explains the peaks observed in recent experiments as resulting from K- absorption by nucleons, arguing that current data do not support the existence of deeply bound K- states in nuclei.

Contribution

The study provides a natural explanation for experimental peaks without invoking deeply bound K- states, emphasizing the role of nucleon absorption and subsequent interactions.

Findings

Peaks explained by K- absorption on nucleons

No experimental evidence for deeply bound K- states

Residual interactions influence observed signals

Abstract

It will be shown that the peaks in the (Lambda p) and (Lambda d) invariant mass distributions, observed in recent FINUDA experiments and claimed to be signals of deeply bound kaonic states, are naturally explained in terms of K- absorption by two or three nucleons leaving the rest of the original nuclei as spectator. For reactions on heavy nuclei, the subsequent interactions of the particles produced in the primary absorption process with the residual nucleus play an important role. Our analyses leads to the conclusion that at present there is no experimental evidence of deeply bound K- state in nuclei. Although the FINUDA experiments have been done for reasons which are not supported a posteriori, some new physics can be extracted from the data.