The ΛΛ→YN\Lambda \Lambda \to YN Weak Transition in Double-Λ\Lambda Hypernuclei

We calculate the $\Lambda \Lambda \to YN$ transition rate of ${^{\phantom{\Lambda}6}_{\Lambda \Lambda}}$He by the hybrid picture, the $\pi$ and $K$ exchanges plus the direct quark processes. It is found that the hyperon-induced decay is weaker than the nucleon-induced decay, but the former may reveal the short-range mechanism of the weak transition and also give a clear signal of the strong $\Delta I=3/2$ transition. The $\Lambda \Lambda \to Y N$ transition in double-$\Lambda$ hypernucleus is complement to the $\Lambda N \to NN$ transition as it occurs only in the J=0 channel, while the J=1 transition is dominant in the $\Lambda N \to NN$ case.Comment: 9 page

Neutron and proton spectra from the decay of Λ\Lambda hypernuclei

We have determined the spectra of neutrons and protons following the decay of $\Lambda$ hypernuclei through the one- and two-nucleon induced mechanisms. The momentum distributions of the primary nucleons are calculated and a Monte Carlo simulation is used to account for final state interactions. From the spectra we calculate the number of neutrons ($N_n$) and protons ($N_p$) per $\Lambda$ decay and show how the measurement of these quantities, particularly $N_p$, can lead to a determination of $\Gamma_n / \Gamma_p$, the ratio of neutron to proton induced $\Lambda$ decay. We also show that the consideration of the two-nucleon induced channel has a repercussion in the results, widening the band of allowed values of $\Gamma_n / \Gamma_p$ with respect to what is obtained neglecting this channel.Comment: 30 pages, 12 Postscript figures, uuencoded file, ReVTeX, epsf.st

Final State Interactions in Hypernuclear Decay

We present an update of the One-Meson-Exchange (OME) results for the weak decay of s- and p-shell hypernuclei (Ref. Phys. Rev. C {\bf 56}, 339 (1997)), paying special attention to the role played by final state interactions between the emitted nucleons. The present study also corrects for a mistake in the inclusion of the $K$ and $K^*$ exchange mechanisms, which substantially increases the ratio of neutron-induced to proton-induced transitions, $\Gamma_n/\Gamma_p$. With the most up-to-date model ingredients, we find that the OME approach is able to describe very satisfactorily most of the measured observables, including the ratio $\Gamma_n/\Gamma_p$.Comment: 20 pages, 2 eps figure

Proton asymmetry in non-mesonic weak decay of light hypernuclei

We have obtained the decay asymmetry parameters in non-mesonic weak decay of polarized Lambda-hypernuclei by measuring the proton asymmetry. The polarized Lambda-hypernuclei, 5_Lambda-He, 12_Lambda-C, and 11_Lambda-B, were produced in high statistics via the (pi^+,k^+) reaction at 1.05 GeV/c in the forward angles. Preliminary analysis shows that the decay asymmetry parameters are very small for these s-shell and p-shell hypernuclei.Comment: 4pages, 4figures, International Conference on Hypernuclear and Strange Particle Physics (HYP2003

Three-body decay of the d* dibaryon

Under certain circumstances, a three-body decay width can be approximated by an integral involving a product of two off-shell two-body decay widths. This ``angle-average'' approximation is used to calculate the $\pi NN$ decay width of the $d^*(J^\pi=3^+, T=0)$ dibaryon in a simple $\Delta^2$ model for the most important Feynman diagrams describing pion emissions with baryon-baryon recoil and meson retardation. The decay width is found to be about 0.006 (0.07, 0.5) MeV at the $d^*$ mass of 2065 (2100, 2150) MeV for input dynamics derived from the Full Bonn potential. The smallness of this width is qualitatively understood as the result of the three-body decay being ``third forbidden''. The concept of $\ell$ forbiddenness and the threshold behavior of a three-body decay are further studied in connection with the $\pi NN$ decay of the dibaryon $d'(J^\pi=0^-, T=0 or 2)$ where the idea of unfavorness has to be introduced. The implications of these results are briefly discussed.Comment: 15 pages, RevTeX, two-column journal style, six figure

Hyperonic mixing in five-baryon double-strangeness hypernuclei in a two-channel treatment

Properties of hypernuclei $_{\Lambda \Lambda}^5$H and $_{\Lambda \Lambda }^5$He are studied in a two-channel approach with explicit treatment of coupling of channels ^3\text{Z}+\Lambda+\Lambda and \alpha+\Xi. Diagonal \Lambda\Lambda and coupling \Lambda\Lambda-\Xi N interactions are derived within G-matrix procedure from Nijmegen meson-exchange models. Bond energy \Delta B_{\Lambda\Lambda} in $_{\Lambda \Lambda}^5$He exceeds significantly that in $_{\Lambda \Lambda}^5$H due to the channel coupling. Diagonal \Xi\alpha attraction amplifies the effect, which is sensitive also to \Lambda-core interaction. The difference of the \Delta B_{\Lambda\Lambda} values can be an unambiguous signature of the \Lambda\Lambda-\Xi N coupling in \Lambda\Lambda hypernuclei. However, improved knowledge of the hyperon-nucleus potentials is needed for quantitative extraction of the coupling strength from future data on the \Lambda\Lambda hypernuclear binding energies.Comment: 11 pages with 3 figures; Phys. Rev. C, accepte

What Does Free Space Lambda-Lambda Interaction Predict for Lambda-Lambda Hypernuclei?

Data on Lambda-Lambda hypernuclei provide a unique method to learn details on the strangeness S =-2 sector of the baryon-baryon interaction. From the free space Bonn-Julich potentials, determined from data on baryon-baryon scattering in the S=0,-1 channels, we construct an interaction in the S =-2 sector to describe the experimentally known Lambda-Lambda hypernuclei. After including short--range (Jastrow) and RPA correlations, we find masses for these Lambda-Lambda hypernuclei in a reasonable agreement with data, taking into account theoretical and experimental uncertainties. Thus, we provide a natural extension, at low energies, of the Bonn-Julich OBE potentials to the S =-2 channel.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, revtex4 style. Minor changes in conclusions. References updated. Accepted in Phys. Rev. Let

Strangeness nuclear physics: a critical review on selected topics

Selected topics in strangeness nuclear physics are critically reviewed. This includes production, structure and weak decay of $\Lambda$--Hypernuclei, the $\bar K$ nuclear interaction and the possible existence of $\bar K$ bound states in nuclei. Perspectives for future studies on these issues are also outlined.Comment: 63 pages, 51 figures, accepted for publication on European Physical Journal