Production of $\Xi^*$ resonances in $\Sigma^-$ induced reactions at 345 GeV/c

Abstract

We report on a measurement of the differential and total cross sections of inclusive production of \(\Xi^*\) resonances in \(\Sigma^-\)-nucleus collisions at 345 GeV/c. The cross section for inclusive \(\Xi^0_{1530}\) production is about a factor of 5 below that of \(\Xi^-_{1320}\) hyperons. The products of cross section and branching ratio for the observed channels \(\Xi^0_{1690} \to \Xi^- \pi^+ \Xi^-_{1820} \to \Xi^0_{1530} \pi^-\) and \(\Xi^-_{1950} \to \Xi^0_{1530} \pi^-\) are lower by yet another order of magnitude. The \(\Xi^-_{1820}\) and \(\Xi^-_{1950}\) resonances show significantly harder \(x_F\) and \(p_t\) distributions than \(\Xi^-\) and \(\Xi^0_{1530}\) hyperons. A comparison of the \(x_F\)-distribution to PYTHIA and QGSM predictions provides only a partial agreement.