First observation of a nuclear $s$-state of $\Xi$ hypernucleus, $^{15}_{\Xi}{\rm C}$

TL;DR

This paper reports the first observation of a nuclear $s$-state of the $ ext{^{15}_{ ext{Xi}}C}$ hypernucleus, providing new insights into $ ext{Xi}$ hypernuclear structure through deep bound state events.

Contribution

It presents the first experimental evidence of a nuclear $s$-state of the $ ext{Xi}$ hypernucleus, expanding understanding of hypernuclear energy levels and binding energies.

Findings

Observation of deep $ ext{Xi}^-$ bound states in $ ext{^{14}_N}$.

Determination of $ ext{Xi}^-$ binding energy as 6.27 MeV.

First indication of the nuclear $1s$ state of $ ext{^{15}_{ ext{Xi}}C}$.

Abstract

Bound-systems of $\Xi^-$--$^{14}_{}{\rm N}$ are studied via $\Xi^-$ capture at rest followed by emission of a twin single-$\Lambda$ hypernucleus in the emulsion detectors. Two events forming extremely deep $\Xi^-$ bound states were obtained by analysis of a hybrid method in the E07 experiment at J-PARC and reanalysis of the E373 experiment at KEK-PS. The decay mode of one event was assigned as $\Xi^-+^{14}_{}{\rm N}\to^{5}_{\Lambda}{\rm He}$+$^{5}_{\Lambda}{\rm He}$+$^{4}_{}{\rm He}$+n. Since there are no excited states for daughter particles, the binding energy of the $\Xi^-$ hyperon, $B_{\Xi^-}$, in $^{14}_{}{\rm N}$ nucleus was uniquely determined to be 6.27 $\pm$ 0.27 MeV. Another $\Xi^-$--$^{14}_{}{\rm N}$ system via the decay $^{9}_{\Lambda}{\rm Be}$ + $^{5}_{\Lambda}{\rm He}$ + n brings a $B_{\Xi^-}$ value, 8.00 $\pm$ 0.77 MeV or 4.96 $\pm$ 0.77 MeV, where the two possible values of $B_{\Xi^-}$ correspond to the ground and the excited states of the daughter $^{9}_{\Lambda}{\rm Be}$ nucleus, respectively. Because the $B_{\Xi^-}$ values are larger than those of the previously reported events (KISO and IBUKI), which are both interpreted as the nuclear $1p$ state of the $\Xi^-$--$^{14}_{}{\rm N}$ system, these new events give the first indication of the nuclear $1s$ state of the $\Xi$ hypernucleus, $^{15}_{\Xi}{\rm C}$.