Charged current events with neutral strange particles in high-energy antineutrino interactions

Abstract

The results of a study of strange particle production in charged current interactions in the Fermilab 15 ft bubble chamber filled with a heavy Ne---H2 mixture are presented. Production rates and average multiplicities of K0's and [Lambda]'s as functions of W2 and Q2 are given. The experimental data agree well with the quark-parton model predictions if a yield of 0.06 +/- 0.02 of K0's and [Lambda]'s from charm production is included. Upper limits for D-meson production are given and the shape of the charmed quark fragmentation function is discussed. Inclusive production of the K*(890) and [Sigma](1385) resonances is measured and it is shown that only about 5% of the K0 mesons and [Lambda] hyperons results from resonance decays. Relative production rates of neutral strange particles on proton and neutron targets are studied.