A detailed study of strange particle production ine ⁺ e ⁻ annihilation at high energy

Abstract

Results onK ⁰ and Λ production ine ⁺ e ⁻ annihilation at c.m. energies of 14, 22 and 34 GeV are presented. The shape of theK ⁰ and Λ differential cross sections are very similar to each other and to those of π^±,K ^± and$p(\bar p)$. Scaling violations are observed forK ⁰ production. We obtain a value for the probability to produce strange quark-antiquark pairs relative to that to produce up or down quark-antiquark pairs of 0.35±0.02±0.05. The value ofR ^h=σ(e ⁺ e ^-→hX)/σ_µµ is shown to rise steadily with c.m. energy for all particle species. At 34 GeV we find 1.48±0.05K ⁰ and 0.31±0.03 Λ per event. We have searched for possible Λ polarization. The production ofK ⁰'s and Λ's in jets is examined as a function ofp ² _T and rapidity and compared to that of all charged particles; the yields in two and three jets are also investigated. Results are presented from events with two baryons$(\Lambda ,\bar \Lambda ,por\bar p)$ observed.