Nonmesonic decay of the Lambda hyperon in nuclear matter - implications on the weak Lambda-N interaction

• Published in: arXiv.org
• Main Authors: Cassing, W, Jarczyk, L, Kamys, B, Kulessa, P, Ohm, H, Pysz, K, Rudy, Z, Schult, O W B, Stroeher, H
• Format: Paper
• Language: English
• Published: Ithaca Cornell University Library, arXiv.org 08.01.2003
• Subjects: Antiparticles; Antiprotons; Dependence; Hypernuclei; Nuclear matter; Particle decay
• ISSN: 2331-8422
• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.0109012

The lifetime of the Lambda hyperon in heavy hypernuclei as measured by the COSY-13 Collaboration in proton - Au, Bi and U collisions has been analysed to yield tau(Lambda) = (145 +- 11) ps. This value for tau(Lambda) is compatible with the lifetime extracted from antiproton annihilation on Bi and U targets, however, much more accurate. We find that the dependence of the lifetime tau(Lambda) on the mass of hypernuclei indicates a violation of the phenomenological Delta I = 1/2 rule known from the weak mesonic decays of strange particles. PACS: {13.30.-a}{Decays of baryons} {13.75.Ev}{Hyperon-nucleon interaction} {21.80}{Hypernuclei} {25.80.Pw}{Hyperon-induced reactions}