The production of heavy hyperfragments by K--meson captures at rest in emulsion nuclei

In this study of hyperfragment production by K--meson absorptions at rest in emulsion nuclei, an attempt has been made to estimate the contribution of heavy spallation hyperfragments to the total observed number. In a sample of 24 640 K--meson captures, 1612 secondary events have been attributed to the production and subsequent decay of hyperfragments. From a study of the characteristics of both the production and decay disintegrations, it is concluded that about one half of the observed hyperfragments consists of λ0-hyperons trapped in the heavy spallation products of silver and bromine and these are almost entirely confined to the (0/3) μm range interval. The consequences of their presence aie discussed.