Model of the strong couplings

Abstract

An attempt is made to construct a crude field theory of hyperons and K particles, which are assumed to have spin ½ and spin 0, respectively. The parity of Λ is defined to be plus. Some preliminary experimental evidence is adduced in support of parity plus for Σ. It is further argued that Λ and Σ are coupled to π with roughly the same coupling constant as in the π-N case, while the coupling of K to baryons is weaker. A model of the strong couplings is suggested that incorporates these features. The very strong (VS) pion interactions are completely symmetrical in the baryons, and would leave them all degenerate in the absence of the moderately strong (MS) interactions of K. These last lead to the mass differences among baryons and to the production and absorption of K particles. The MS coupling constants must be determined by experiment, but the VS interactions are exactly specified. With the MS couplings treated in lowest approximation, it is possible to relate any matrix element for K and hyperon reactions to a corresponding matrix element in the theory of nucleons and pions. Thus in the processes K+p→π+Λ and K+p→π+Σ it is expected that in the final state the analog of the (3/2, 3/2) resonance of the π-N system will be observed. It may be, as Wigner has suggested, that the equality of pion couplings for the baryons is somehow related to the conservation of baryons, and that the analogy with electromagnetic coupling is instructive.

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