Observation of the orbitally excited Λ\Lambda(1520) baryon in e+e−\mathrm{e^+e^−} annihilation

We report the first observation of an orbitally excited baryon, the Λ(1520), in quark and gluon fragmentation. The production rate is found to be (1.15±0.21±0.16)×10−2 and (0.80±0.17$_{−0.13}$+0.10)×10$^{−2}$Λ(1520) hyperons per event in direct ϒ decays and in the continuum, respectively. In contrast to the observed situation for ground state baryons, the production of the Λ(1520) in direct ϒ decays shows little or no enhancement with respect to continuum production