The knowledge on $K^-$ absorption by light nuclei is still rather incomplete
because of the lack of experimental data, but has recently gained a fresh
boost. New precision experiments have been performed, mainly with the aim of
finding signatures of multibaryon strange aggregates (dubbed "bound kaonic
nuclear clusters"), which could be formed following the absorption of the
kaon. According to some theoretical approaches [1] these aggregates are
expected to be narrow enough to be observable through their non-mesonic decay.
The real existence of bound nuclear kaonic clusters is still a controversial
matter, being investigated applying several theoretical approaches [2].
A few experimental indications for their presence have been recently
collected, but alternative explanations in terms of simpler processes
giving similar signatures have been suggested as well [3]. Only a thorough
experimental description of the absorption process, by a complete study of
the final state features, may help ruling out misinterpretations.
Up to now, one of the most precise experiments dedicated to the study of
the $K^-$ absorption dynamics is FINUDA, which operated at DA$\Phi$NE, LNF.
The study of $K^-$ absorption reactions on one and few nucleons has been one
of its main research topics [4]. An overview of the results achieved by
FINUDA in the study of multinucleon kaon absorption, investigated through
final states composed by hyperons and nucleons or light nuclei, will be
presented.
References
[1] Y. Akaishi and T. Yamazaki Phys. Rev. C 65 (2002), 044005;
T. Yamazaki and Y. Akaishi, Nucl. Phys. B535 (2002), 70
[2] N.V. Shevchenko, A. Gal, J. Mares, Phys. Rev. Lett. 98 (2007), 082301
J. Mares, E. Friedman, A. Gal, Nucl. Phys. A 770 (2006) 84
A. Dote', T. Hyodo, W. Weise, Phys. Rev. C (2009), 014003
W. Weise, H. Hartle, Nucl. Phys. A 804 (2008) 173
[3] V.K Magas, E. Oset, A. Ramos, H. Toki, Phys. Rev. C 74 (2006), 025206
V.K. Magas, E. Oset, A. Ramos, Phys. Rev. C 77 (2008), 065210
[4] FINUDA Collaboration, M. Agnello et al., Phys.Rev.Lett. 94 (2005), 212303
FINUDA Collaboration, M. Agnello et al., Phys. Lett. B 654 (2007), 80
FINUDA Collaboration, M. Agnello et al., Phys. Lett. B 669 (2008), 229