Study of \Sigma(1385) and \Xi(1321) hyperon and antihyperon production in deep inelastic muon scattering

TL;DR

This study measures the production rates of various hyperons and antihyperons in deep-inelastic muon scattering, providing data to improve Monte Carlo models of strange particle production.

Contribution

It presents the first detailed measurements of hyperon and antihyperon yields in muon scattering off a lithium target, and uses these results to tune simulation parameters.

Findings

Hyperon to Lambda yield ratios are 3.8% to 5.6%.

Heavy hyperon yields are consistent with previous measurements.

Results improve Monte Carlo modeling of strange particle production.

Abstract

Large samples of \Lambda, \Sigma(1385) and \Xi(1321) hyperons produced in deep-inelastic muon scattering off a ^6LiD target were collected with the COMPASS experimental setup at CERN. The relative yields of \Sigma(1385)^+, \Sigma(1385)^-, \bar{\Sigma}(1385)^-, \bar{\Sigma}(1385)^+, \Xi(1321)^-, and \bar{\Xi}(1321)^+ hyperons decaying into \Lambda(\bar{\Lambda})\pi were measured. The heavy hyperon to \Lambda and heavy antihyperon to \bar{\Lambda} yield ratios were found to be in the range 3.8% to 5.6% with a relative uncertainty of about 10%. They were used to tune the parameters relevant for strange particle production of the LEPTO Monte Carlo generator.