Stringent test of $CP$ symmetry in $\Sigma^+$ hyperon decays

Abstract

The non-leptonic two-body weak decays $\Sigma^{+} \to p \pi^{0}$ and $\bar{\Sigma}^{-} \to \bar{p} \pi^{0}$ are investigated, utilizing $(1.0087\pm0.0044)\times10^{10}$ $J/\psi$ events and $(2.7124\pm0.0143)\times10^{9}$ $\psi(3686)$ events collected by BESIII experiment. The precision of the weak-decay parameters for the decays $\Sigma^{+} \to p \pi^{0}$ ($\alpha_{0}$) and $\bar{\Sigma}^{-} \to \bar{p} \pi^{0}$ ($\bar{\alpha}_{0}$) is improved by a factor of three compared to the previous world average. Furthermore, the quantum-entangled $\Sigma^{+}\bar{\Sigma}^{-}$ system enables the most precise test of $CP$ symmetry for the decay $\Sigma^+\to p\pi^0$, through the asymmetry observable $A_{CP}=(\alpha_{0}+\bar{\alpha}_{0})/(\alpha_{0}-\bar{\alpha}_{0})$ that is measured to be $-0.0118\pm0.0083_{\rm stat}\pm0.0028_{\rm syst}$. Assuming $CP$ conservation, the average decay parameter is determined to be ${\left< \alpha_{\rm 0}\right>} = (\alpha_0-\bar\alpha_0)/2=-0.9869\pm0.0011_{\rm stat}\pm0.0016_{\rm syst}$, which is the most precise measurement of the asymmetry decay parameters in baryon sectors. The angular dependence of the ratio of the polarization of the $\Sigma^+$ in both $J/\psi$ and $\psi(3686)$ decays is studied for the first time.