Exploring the neutron skin by hyperon–antihyperon production in antiproton–nucleus interactions

Abstract

In this work we propose a new method to measure the evolution of the neutron skin thickness between different isotopes. We consider antiproton–nucleus interactions close to the production threshold of ΛΛ̅ and Σ− Λ̅ pairs. At low energies, ΛΛ̅ pairs are produced in p̅ + p collisions, while Σ−Λ̅ pairs can only be produced in p̅ + n interactions. Measuring these cross sections provides information on the neutron skin thickness.