Measurement of the production cross section for charmed baryons in proton–nucleus interactions at 70 GeV

The results of an analysis of data from the SERP-Е-184 experiment devoted to studying mechanisms of the production of charmed particles in proton–nucleus interactions at 70 GeV and their decays are presented. The data in question were obtained upon irradiating the SVD-2 active target consisting of carbon, silicon, and lead plates with a beam of 70-GeV protons. A detailed simulation on the basis of the FRITIOF7.02 and GEANT3.21 code packages made it possible to optimize event-selection criteria and to calculate the detection efficiency for Λ c + baryons. After selecting a signal from the threebody decay of a Λ c + baryon, the inclusive cross section for its production at near- threshold energies, its lifetime, and the parameter of the A dependence of the cross section were found. The Λ c + - baryonyields are tabulated along with data from other experiments and theoretical predictions.