Response to the $^7_\Lambda$He interpretation of MAMI's recent determination of $B_\Lambda(^3_\Lambda$H)

TL;DR

This paper refutes a recent interpretation suggesting a hypernuclear decay origin for a pion-momentum peak, reaffirming the original assignment to hypertriton decay based on quantitative analysis.

Contribution

The authors provide quantitative arguments against the alternative hypernuclear decay interpretation, supporting their original hypertriton decay assignment.

Findings

The peak is more consistent with hypertriton decay than with $^7_ ext{Lambda}$He decay.

Quantitative analysis favors the original interpretation of the pion-momentum peak.

The hypertriton decay explanation remains the most supported by the data.

Abstract

We respond to the recent suggestion by A. Gal [arXiv:2604.18259] that the sharp pion-momentum peak at $p_{\pi^-} \approx 113.8$~MeV/$c$ observed in our $^7\mathrm{Li}(e,e^\prime K^+)$ electroproduction experiment at MAMI [Phys. Rev. Lett. 136, 152301 (2026)] originates from $^7_\Lambda\mathrm{He}$ weak decay rather than from $^3_\Lambda\mathrm{H} \to \pi^- + {}^3\mathrm{He}$ as we reported. We present quantitative arguments against this interpretation and conclude that the $^3_\Lambda\mathrm{H}$ assignment remains the most well-supported interpretation of the data.