Search for Theta(1540)^+ in exclusive proton-induced reaction p+C(N) \to Theta^+ \bar{K}^0 + C(N) at the energy of 70 GeV

TL;DR

This study conducted a detailed search for the pentaquark Theta(1540)^+ in proton-carbon collisions at 70 GeV but found no evidence, setting upper limits on its production cross section relative to known particles.

Contribution

The paper provides the first experimental upper limits on Theta(1540)^+ production in proton-induced reactions at high energy, using multiple decay channels and calibration methods.

Findings

No evidence for Theta(1540)^+ was observed in any decay channel.

Upper limits on production cross section ratios were established.

A preliminary upper limit for the cross section was set at 30 nb/nucleon.

Abstract

A search for narrow Theta(1540)^+, a candidate for pentaquark baryon with positive strangeness, has been performed in an exclusive proton-induced reaction p+C(N) \to Theta^+ \bar{K}^0 + C(N) on carbon nuclei or quasifree nucleons at E_{beam}=70 GeV (sqrt{s} = 11.5 GeV) studying nK^+, pK_S and pK_L decay channels of Theta(1540)^+ in four different final states of the Theta^+ \bar{K}^0 system. In order to assess the quality of the identification of the final states with neutron or K_L we reconstructed Lambda(1520)\to nK_S and phi\to K_LK_S decays in the calibration reactions p+C(N)\to Lambda(1520)K^+ + C(N) and p+C(N)\to p\phi + C(N). We found no evidence for narrow pentaquark peak in any of the studied final states and decay channels. Assuming that the production characteristics of the Theta^+ \bar{K^0} system are not drastically different from those of the Lambda(1520)K^+ and p\phi systems, we established upper limits on the cross section ratios sigma(Theta^+\bar{K}^0)/sigma(Lambda(1520)K^+) < 0.02 and sigma(Theta^+\bar{K}^0)/sigma(p\phi) < 0.15 at 90% CL and a preliminary upper limit for the forward hemisphere cross section sigma(Theta^+\bar{K}^0) < 30 nb/nucleon.