$A$ dependence of the $γ$- and $p$-induced production of the $Λ(1520)$ from nuclei

Abstract

Using results of a recent calculation of the $Λ(1520)$ in the nuclear medium, which show that the medium width is about five times the free width, we study the A dependence of the $Λ(1520)$ production cross section in the reactions $γ~A \to K^+ Λ(1520) A^\prime$ and $p~ A \to p~ K^+ Λ(1520) A^\prime$. We find a sizable A dependence in the ratio of the nuclear cross sections for heavy nuclei with respect to a light one due to the large value of the $Λ(1520)$ width in the medium, showing that devoted experiments, easily within reach in present facilities, can provide good information on that magnitude by measuring the cross sections studied here.

14 pages, 5 figures