ΛK0andΣ0K0Production in 1.5-BeV/cπ−pInteractions

Abstract

476 $\ensuremath{\Lambda}{K}^{0}$ and 134 ${\ensuremath{\Sigma}}^{0}{K}^{0}$ events have been investigated in the experiment 1.508 BeV/c ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\Lambda}{K}^{0} \mathrm{and} {\ensuremath{\Sigma}}^{0}{K}^{0}$. The $\ensuremath{\Lambda}$ is produced mostly backward in the center of mass and has an average polarization (-0.76\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.14). The production and polarization angular distributions are well fit with $\mathrm{spd}$ waves. The total $\ensuremath{\Lambda}{K}^{0}$ production cross section is (214+23) \ensuremath{\mu}b. The ${\ensuremath{\Sigma}}^{0}$ production angular distribution has a small backward peak and an indication of a forward rise; it is consistent with either $\mathrm{sp}$ or $\mathrm{spd}$ waves. The statistics are too poor to measure the ${\ensuremath{\Sigma}}^{0}$ polarization.