Accessing the strong interaction between Λ baryons and charged kaons with the femtoscopy technique at the LHC

The interaction between Lambda baryons and kaons/antikaons is a crucial ingredient for the strangeness S= 0 and S= -2 sector of the meson-baryon interaction at low energies. In particular, the Lambda(K) over bar might help in understanding the origin of states such as the Xi(1620), whose nature and properties are still under debate. Experimental data on Lambda-K and Lambda-(K) over bar systems are scarce, leading to large uncertainties and tension between the available theoretical predictions constrained by such data. In this Letter we present the measurements of Lambda-K+ circle plus (Lambda) over bar -K- and Lambda-K- circle plus (Lambda) over bar -K+ correlations obtained in the high-multiplicity triggered data sample in pp collisions at root s= 13TeV recorded by ALICE at the LHC. The correlation function for both pairs is modeled using the Lednicky-Lyuboshits analytical formula and the corresponding scattering parameters are extracted. The Lambda-K- circle plus (Lambda) over bar -K+ correlations show the presence of several structures at relative momenta k* above 200 MeV/c, compatible with the Omega baryon, the Xi(1690), and Xi(1820) resonances decaying into Lambda-K- pairs. The low k* region in the Lambda-K- circle plus (Lambda) over bar -K+ also exhibits the presence of the Xi(1620) state, expected to strongly couple to the measured pair. The presented data allow to access the Lambda K+ and Lambda K- strong interaction with an unprecedented precision and deliver the first experimental observation of the Xi(1620) decaying into Lambda K-. (c) 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Funded by SCOAP3.