Pion-induced production of Λ(1520) hyperons on nuclei near threshold

Abstract We study the pion-induced inclusive Λ ( 1520 ) hyperon production from nuclei near threshold within a nuclear spectral function approach accounting for incoherent primary π − meson–proton π − p → K 0 Λ ( 1520 ) production processes. We calculate the absolute differential and total cross sections for the production of Λ ( 1520 ) hyperons off carbon and tungsten nuclei at laboratory angles of 0∘–10∘, 10∘–45∘ and 45∘–85∘ by π − mesons with momentum of 1.7 GeV/c as well as their relative (transparency ratio) differential and integral yields from these nuclei within four scenarios for their total in-medium width. We demonstrate that these absolute observables, contrary to the relative ones, reveal some sensitivity to the Λ ( 1520 ) in-medium width. Therefore, their measurement in a dedicated experiment at the GSI pion beam facility will allow to shed light on this width.