Hyperfragments produced from K− capture

Characteristics of hyperfragments produced from K^? capture in nuclear emulsion are investigated through computer simulation and compared with corresponding experimental results. The nuclear cascade is completely simulated and the nucleus is de-excited through evaporation after estimating the excitation energy. Characteristics of hyperfragments particularly their mass distribution and the prong distribution of their production star can be used in favour of the peripheral hypothesis of K^? absorption. The calculated and the observed range distributions of the heavy hyperfragments are not in complete agreement, a feature leading to the inference that spallation may not be the only process responsible for the production of such hyperfragments.