The pp -> p Lambda K+ and pp -> p Sigma0 K+ Reactions in the Chiral Unitary Approach

TL;DR

This paper models the near-threshold pp -> p Lambda K+ and pp -> p Sigma0 K+ reactions using a chiral unitary approach, successfully explaining experimental cross sections and suppression phenomena.

Contribution

It introduces a chiral unitary framework to analyze hyperon production in proton-proton collisions, incorporating exchange mechanisms and final state interactions.

Findings

Total cross section matches experimental data for pp -> p Lambda K+

Explains suppression of Sigma0 production relative to Lambda

Provides a unified theoretical description of hyperon production

Abstract

We study the pp -> p Lambda K+ and pp -> p Sigma0 K+ reactions near threshold by using a chiral unitary approach. We consider the single-pion and single-kaon exchange as well as the final state interactions of nucleon-hyperon, K-hyperon and K-nucleon systems. Our results on the total cross section of the pp -> p Lambda K+ reaction is consistent with the experimental data, and the experimental observed strong suppression of Sigma0 production compared to Lambda production at the same excess energy can also be explained in our model.