The feasibility of single $Λ$ production via ${\ell}^{-}$ $+$ $p$ ${\to}$ $Λ$ $+$ $ν_{\ell}$ at $e^{+}e^{-}$ colliders

Abstract

We present a comprehensive investigation of single $Λ$ hyperon production via the lepton-nucleon deep inelastic scattering (LNDIS) process, ${\ell}^{-}$ $+$ $p$ ${\to}$ $ν_{\ell}$ $+$ $Λ$, in the experimental environment of electron-positron colliders. Our approach utilizes incident leptons originating from the decays of resonances (${J/ψ}$, $ψ(2S)$, $Υ(1S)$, $Υ(2S)$, and $Z^{0}$) produced in $e^{+}e^{-}$ collisions, which then scatter off stationary protons in the surrounding detector materials. The differential and total cross sections are calculated using baryonic transition form factors parameterized with the $z$-expansion scheme within both the quantum chromodynamics (QCD) sum rule and lattice QCD frameworks. Our results indicate that the cross section increases with center-of-mass energy and is highly sensitive to the choice of form factors, resulting in significant theoretical uncertainties. This study highlights the experimental challenges in observing the LNDIS process at $e^{+}e^{-}$ colliders and underscores the need for improved determination of baryonic form factors. It serves as a valuable reference for future experimental searches and suggests that an anomalous observation of single $Λ$ hyperon production at $e^{+}e^{-}$ colliders could indicate new physics.