Direct Experimental Evidence for the Existence of a Heavy Positive V Particle

Abstract

Various workers have shown [1,2] that some, if not all, charged V particles observed in cloud-chamber experiments can be identified with the K particle [3] (κ- and χ-mesons) found in nuclear emulsions. Direct mass measurements have been made on primary V particles of both signs of charge. These measurements have in all cases given values, somewhat lighter than a proton mass, which are entirely consistent with the known masses of K particles. The questions arises, therefore, as to whether charged V particles exist whose mass is considerably grater than that of a K particle, and which perhaps decay into a nucleon and π-meson, in a manner analogous to the decay of the neutral V particles.