Inclusive Σ+ and Σ0 production in hadronic Z decays

Abstract We report on measurements of the inclusive production rate of Σ + and Σ 0 baryons in hadronic Z decays collected with the L3 detector at LEP. The Σ + baryons are detected through the decay Σ + →p π 0 , while the Σ 0 baryons are detected via the decay mode Σ 0 → Λγ . The average numbers of Σ + and Σ 0 per hadronic Z decay are measured to be: N Σ + + N Σ + =0.114±0.011 stat ±0.009 syst N Σ 0 + N Σ 0 =0.095±0.015 stat ±0.013 syst . These rates are found to be higher than the predictions from Monte Carlo hadronization models and analytical parameterizations of strange baryon production.