Search for a kaonic nuclear state via $^4$He$(K^-, N)$


Abstract in English

Very recently, we have performed a couple of experiments, {it{KEK PS-E549/E570}}, for the detailed study of the strange tribaryon $S^0(3115)$ obtained in {it{KEK PS-E471}}. These experiments were performed to accumulate much higher statistics with improved experimental apparatusespecially for the better proton spectroscopy of the $^4$He({it{stopped K}}$^-$, {it{N}}) reaction. In contrast to the previous proton spectrum, no narrow ($sim$ 20 MeV) peak structure was found either in the inclusive $^4$He({it{stopped K}}$^-$, {it{p}}) or in the semi-inclusive $^4$He({it{stopped K}}$^-$, {it{p}}$X^pm$) reaction channel, which is equivalent to the previous $E471$ event trigger condition. Detailed analysis of the present data and simulation shows that the peak, corresponding to $S^0(3115)$, has been an experimental artifact. Present analysis does not exclude the possible existence of a much wider structure. To be sensitive to such structure and for better understanding of the non-mesonic $K^-$ absorption reaction channel, detailed analysis of the data is in progress.

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