Near threshold Lambda and Sigma production in pp collisions

Abstract

A model calculation for the reactions $pp\to p\hat{I}›K^{+}$ and $pp\to N\hat{I}\pounds K$ near their thresholds is presented. It is argued that the experimentally observed strong suppression of $\hat{I}{\pounds }^0$ production compared to $\hat{I}›$ production at the same excess energy could be due to a destructive interference between the $\ddot{I}€$ and $K$ exchange contributions in the reaction $pp\to p\hat{I}{\pounds }^0{K}^{+}$. Predictions for $pp\to p\hat{I}{\pounds }^{+}{K}^0$ and $pp\to n\hat{I}{\pounds }^{+}{K}^{+}$ are given.

3 pages, 1 figure, uses espcrc1.sty, contribution presented at the 16th International Conference on Few-Body Problems in Physics, Taipei, Taiwan, 6-10 March 2000