MULTINUCLEON CAPTURE OF K(-) MESONS AND SOME ASSOCIATED PROBLEMS OF THE K(-) CAPTURE PROCESS
Abstract
The multinucleon absorption of K(-) mesons is studied by searching for fast ! hyperons emitted from K(-) capture stars in normal and in water-soaked Ilford G5 nuclear emulsion. These fast (> 60 mev) hyperons are the only certain indication that a K(-) meson was absorbed nonmesonically. On the basis of these data and their reasonable similarity with that of Evans et al., it is concluded that the capture of K(-) mesons by the light emulsion nuclei (C,N,O) is 2.2 ! .3 times more likely to yield a fast hyperon that is K(-) capture by Ag and Br. Combining this with the hyperon absorption probabilities deduced from a study of Auger electron emission, the multinucleon K(-) absorption probability is approximately the same for light and heavy capturing nuclei in nuclear emulsion (excluding hydrogen). Of 56 fast hyperon events, 17 were consistent with K(-) capture by a light nucleus. By combining these events with those reported by Evans et al., we find when a K(-) meson is absorbed through a multinucleon channel by C12 and O16, that the basic interaction in 92% of the events is consistent with the destruction of a single particle subunit. The Auger spectrum resulting from capture and subsequent cascade of K(-) mesons shows evidence for the line structure predicted by conventional theory. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1962
- Accession Number
- AD0275455
Entities
People
- George Thomas Condo
Organizations
- University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign