Production of Hyperfragments from the Interactions of 800-MeV/cK−Mesons with Emulsion Nuclei

A study has been made of the production of hyperfragments by the interactions of 800-MeV/c $K^{-}$ mesons in nuclear emulsion. The frequency of production, estimated to be 5.3±0.3%, is about the same as for $K^{-}$ mesons at rest. The hyperfragments are emitted predominantly in the forward direction and the ratio of nonmesonic to mesonic decays has been found to be 11.5±0.6, much greater than for $K^{-}$ mesons at rest. The proportion of hyperfragments of short range (range in emulsion $K^{-}$ mesons at rest. In at least 65±4% of cases they come from heavy emulsion nuclei, in contrast to the situation for $K$ mesons at rest where most hyperfragments appear to originate in light emulsion nuclei. A model is proposed which can account for many of the features of the hyperfragment production process.