Suppression of semileptonic lambda decays

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In summary, "Suppression of semileptonic lambda decays" refers to the reduction of the decay of a lambda particle into a proton and a charged lepton. This phenomenon is important for understanding particle interactions in the Standard Model and is measured by comparing decay rates. The mass difference, weak interaction strength, and interference from other particles can contribute to this suppression. It is also relevant to other areas of particle physics research, including baryon decays and the search for new physics.
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Fek
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Confused by the branching ratio of uds ---> proton + e- + neutrino compared to uds ---> proton + pion (or neutron + pion).

In both cases an W boson is being produced as the strange quark changes flavour, and it is either decaying to leptons or first generation quarks - why is the leptonic decay so suppressed? (BR of order 10^-4).

I can see it must be easier to distribute momentum to two particles of similar mass, but is there a simple way to quantify this without doing the full phase space calculation?
 
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Helicity suppression?
 

FAQ: Suppression of semileptonic lambda decays

1. What is "Suppression of semileptonic lambda decays"?

"Suppression of semileptonic lambda decays" refers to the phenomenon in which the decay of a lambda particle (a type of baryon composed of an up, down, and strange quark) into a proton and a charged lepton (such as an electron or muon) is suppressed or reduced compared to other possible decay pathways.

2. Why is the suppression of semileptonic lambda decays important?

The suppression of semileptonic lambda decays is important because it can provide insights into the underlying structure and interactions of particles in the Standard Model of particle physics. It can also help to test the predictions of theoretical models and improve our understanding of the fundamental forces in the universe.

3. How is the suppression of semileptonic lambda decays measured?

The suppression of semileptonic lambda decays is typically measured by comparing the rate of lambda decays into a proton and charged lepton (such as an electron or muon) to the rate of decays into other possible final states. This can be done using data from particle accelerators or other experiments that produce and detect lambda particles.

4. What factors contribute to the suppression of semileptonic lambda decays?

There are several factors that can contribute to the suppression of semileptonic lambda decays, including the mass difference between the lambda particle and the proton, the strength of the weak interaction responsible for the decay, and the presence of other particles in the decay process that can interfere with the decay.

5. How does the suppression of semileptonic lambda decays relate to other areas of research in particle physics?

The suppression of semileptonic lambda decays is related to other areas of research in particle physics, such as the study of baryon decays and the search for new physics beyond the Standard Model. It is also relevant to studies of the weak interaction, which is responsible for the decay of the lambda particle.

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