A search for a bound Σ hypernuclei in the A = 3 system

The search for a bound Σ hypernuclei state in the A = 3, 4 systems was undertaken at the AGS using the Hypernuclear Spectrometer, 'Moby Dick' and the secondary Kaon beam line, LESBII at an incident momentum of 600 MeV/c. Both liquid 3He and 4He targets were used. An analysis of the 3He(K-, π+) data tagged by two charged particles decay mode of the recoil system unveiled some strength in the EE (Excitation Energy) spectrum just below the Σ-D threshold. On the other hand, Monte Carlo simulation of the various decay modes of the formed recoil system revealed that the above strength is consistent with the formation of a Σ0 nn system. A theoretical background and experimental arrangements are given in Chapters one and two; while a detailed analysis and discussion of the 3He(K-, π+)X reaction data are presented in Chapters three and four respectively