Study of lambda production in 10 GeV/c K−p interactions

Abstract Lambda production is studied in K − p interactions at 10.1 GeV/ c , where the dominant reaction is K − p → Λ + pions. General characteristics such as the distributions of the double differential cross section in the lab system, of the variable x = p L ∗ p max ∗ , of p ⊥ 2 and of the missing mass to the lambda are presented. Total cross sections for Λ production and for the various channels are given. Differential cross sections d σ d t , d σ d t′ and d σ d u′ are presented. Forward and backward peaks are observed in the d σ d t′ and d σ d u′ distributions, respectively. It is found that the exponential slope of these distributions decreases with increasing missing mass to the lambda and, for d σ d t′ , also for increasing multiplicity in the final state. The polarization of the lambdas is studied as a function of multiplicity, p L ∗ , (Λπ ± ) effective mass, t ′ and u ′. The forward lambdas show