Examine the conservation of baryon number in the reaction producing the \Omega^{-} particle shown in the bubble chamber photograph of Figure 14.10.
Chapter 14
Q. 14.5
Step-by-Step
Verified Solution
This is a straightforward application of the baryon conservation law. The reaction is
K ^{-}+p \rightarrow K ^{0}+ K ^{+}+\Omega^{-} (14.7)
The kaons all have B=0, so on the left side we have B=0+1=1. The \Omega^{-} has B=+1, so on the right side we have B=0+0+1=1. This was the experiment that first identified the \Omega^{-} particle, some three years after Gell-Mann predicted its existence.