Cross section of the $pp\to K^+Σ^+n$ reaction close to threshold

Abstract

We have measured inclusive data on $K^+$-meson production in $pp$ collisions at COSY Jülich close to the hyperon production threshold and determined the hyperon-nucleon invariant mass spectra. The spectra were decomposed into three parts: $Λp$, $Σ^0p$ and $Σ^+n$. The cross section for the $Σ^+n$ channel was found to be much smaller than a previous measurement in that excess energy region. The data together with previous results at higher energies are compatible with a phase space dependence.

accepted by Phys. lett. B some typos corrected