Multi-Quark Hadrons and S=-2 Hypernuclei

Abstract

The general character of 4-quark (mesonic) and strange 6-quark (baryonic) quark systems is very briefly reviewed a la Jaffe, i.e. in the MIT bag, and so far still possibly viable candidates are indicated. Concentration is on S=-2 systems. Traditionally, one employs the (K^-,K^+) reaction on a relatively light target and hopes to retain two units of strangeness on a single final state fragment. Alternatively, heavy ion reactions can be used to produce Lambda-hyperons copiously and one seeks to observe coalescence of two of these particles into the lightest S=-2 nucleus, the H-dibaryon. The complications arising from the presence of a repulsive core in the baryon-baryon interaction on the production of the H are discussed. Also considered is the possible presence in the data from the AGS experiment E906, of slightly heavier S=-2 nuclei, in particular_{Lambda Lambda}^{4}H.