⚛️ high-energy experiments

Measurement of Branching Fraction and Transition Magnetic Moment of the Hyperon Dalitz Decay $\Sigma^0 \rightarrow \Lambda e^+e^-$

Using a sample of 10 billion $J/\psi$ events from the BESIII detector, this study reports the first experimental observation of the Dalitz decay $\Sigma^0 \rightarrow \Lambda e^+e^-$ , measuring its branching fraction as $(6.34 \pm 0.25_{\rm stat.} \pm 0.23_{\rm syst.}) \times 10^{-3}$ and determining the transition magnetic moment to be $(1.74 \pm 0.03_{\rm stat.} \pm 0.09_{\rm syst.})\,\mu_N$ , with the branching fraction result showing a $2\sigma$ discrepancy from previous theoretical predictions.

Original authors: BESIII Collaboration, M. Ablikim (collapse list), M. N. Achasov (collapse list), P. Adlarson (collapse list), X. C. Ai (collapse list), R. Aliberti (collapse list), A. Amoroso (collapse list), Q. An (BESIII Collaboration, M. Ablikim (collapse list), M. N. Achasov (collapse list), P. Adlarson (collapse list), X. C. Ai (collapse list), R. Aliberti (collapse list), A. Amoroso (collapse list), Q. An (collapse list), Y. Bai (collapse list), O. Bakina (collapse list), Y. Ban (collapse list), H. -R. Bao (collapse list), V. Batozskaya (collapse list), K. Begzsuren (collapse list), N. Berger (collapse list), M. Berlowski (collapse list), M. B. Bertani (collapse list), D. Bettoni (collapse list), F. Bianchi (collapse list), E. Bianco (collapse list), A. Bortone (collapse list), I. Boyko (collapse list), R. A. Briere (collapse list), A. Brueggemann (collapse list), H. Cai (collapse list), M. H. Cai (collapse list), X. Cai (collapse list), A. Calcaterra (collapse list), G. F. Cao (collapse list), N. Cao (collapse list), S. A. Cetin (collapse list), X. Y. Chai (collapse list), J. F. Chang (collapse list), T. T. Chang (collapse list), G. R. Che (collapse list), Y. Z. Che (collapse list), C. H. Chen (collapse list), Chao Chen (collapse list), G. Chen (collapse list), H. S. Chen (collapse list), H. Y. Chen (collapse list), M. L. Chen (collapse list), S. J. Chen (collapse list), S. M. Chen (collapse list), T. Chen (collapse list), X. R. Chen (collapse list), X. T. Chen (collapse list), X. Y. Chen (collapse list), Y. B. Chen (collapse list), Y. Q. Chen (collapse list), Z. K. Chen (collapse list), J. C. Cheng (collapse list), L. N. Cheng (collapse list), S. K. Choi (collapse list), X. Chu (collapse list), G. Cibinetto (collapse list), F. Cossio (collapse list), J. Cottee-Meldrum (collapse list), H. L. Dai (collapse list), J. P. Dai (collapse list), X. C. Dai (collapse list), A. Dbeyssi (collapse list), R. E. de Boer (collapse list), D. Dedovich (collapse list), C. Q. Deng (collapse list), Z. Y. Deng (collapse list), A. Denig (collapse list), I. Denisenko (collapse list), M. Destefanis (collapse list), F. De Mori (collapse list), X. X. Ding (collapse list), Y. Ding (collapse list), Y. X. Ding (collapse list), J. Dong (collapse list), L. Y. Dong (collapse list), M. Y. Dong (collapse list), X. Dong (collapse list), M. C. Du (collapse list), S. X. Du (collapse list), S. X. Du (collapse list), X. L. Du (collapse list), Y. Y. Duan (collapse list), Z. H. Duan (collapse list), P. Egorov (collapse list), G. F. Fan (collapse list), J. J. Fan (collapse list), Y. H. Fan (collapse list), J. Fang (collapse list), J. Fang (collapse list), S. S. Fang (collapse list), W. X. Fang (collapse list), Y. Q. Fang (collapse list), L. Fava (collapse list), F. Feldbauer (collapse list), G. Felici (collapse list), C. Q. Feng (collapse list), J. H. Feng (collapse list), L. Feng (collapse list), Q. X. Feng (collapse list), Y. T. Feng (collapse list), M. Fritsch (collapse list), C. D. Fu (collapse list), J. L. Fu (collapse list), Y. W. Fu (collapse list), H. Gao (collapse list), Y. Gao (collapse list), Y. N. Gao (collapse list), Y. N. Gao (collapse list), Y. Y. Gao (collapse list), Z. Gao (collapse list), S. Garbolino (collapse list), I. Garzia (collapse list), L. Ge (collapse list), P. T. Ge (collapse list), Z. W. Ge (collapse list), C. Geng (collapse list), E. M. Gersabeck (collapse list), A. Gilman (collapse list), K. Goetzen (collapse list), J. D. Gong (collapse list), L. Gong (collapse list), W. X. Gong (collapse list), W. Gradl (collapse list), S. Gramigna (collapse list), M. Greco (collapse list), M. D. Gu (collapse list), M. H. Gu (collapse list), C. Y. Guan (collapse list), A. Q. Guo (collapse list), J. N. Guo (collapse list), L. B. Guo (collapse list), M. J. Guo (collapse list), R. P. Guo (collapse list), X. Guo (collapse list), Y. P. Guo (collapse list), A. Guskov (collapse list), J. Gutierrez (collapse list), T. T. Han (collapse list), F. Hanisch (collapse list), K. D. Hao (collapse list), X. Q. Hao (collapse list), F. A. Harris (collapse list), C. Z. He (collapse list), K. L. He (collapse list), F. H. Heinsius (collapse list), C. H. Heinz (collapse list), Y. K. Heng (collapse list), C. Herold (collapse list), P. C. Hong (collapse list), G. Y. Hou (collapse list), X. T. Hou (collapse list), Y. R. Hou (collapse list), Z. L. Hou (collapse list), H. M. Hu (collapse list), J. F. Hu (collapse list), Q. P. Hu (collapse list), S. L. Hu (collapse list), T. Hu (collapse list), Y. Hu (collapse list), Z. M. Hu (collapse list), G. S. Huang (collapse list), K. X. Huang (collapse list), L. Q. Huang (collapse list), P. Huang (collapse list), X. T. Huang (collapse list), Y. P. Huang (collapse list), Y. S. Huang (collapse list), T. Hussain (collapse list), N. Hüsken (collapse list), N. in der Wiesche (collapse list), J. Jackson (collapse list), Q. Ji (collapse list), Q. P. Ji (collapse list), W. Ji (collapse list), X. B. Ji (collapse list), X. L. Ji (collapse list), X. Q. Jia (collapse list), Z. K. Jia (collapse list), D. Jiang (collapse list), H. B. Jiang (collapse list), P. C. Jiang (collapse list), S. J. Jiang (collapse list), X. S. Jiang (collapse list), Y. Jiang (collapse list), J. B. Jiao (collapse list), J. K. Jiao (collapse list), Z. Jiao (collapse list), S. Jin (collapse list), Y. Jin (collapse list), M. Q. Jing (collapse list), X. M. Jing (collapse list), T. Johansson (collapse list), S. Kabana (collapse list), N. Kalantar-Nayestanaki (collapse list), X. L. Kang (collapse list), X. S. Kang (collapse list), M. Kavatsyuk (collapse list), B. C. Ke (collapse list), V. Khachatryan (collapse list), A. Khoukaz (collapse list), O. B. Kolcu (collapse list), B. Kopf (collapse list), L. Kröger (collapse list), M. Kuessner (collapse list), X. Kui (collapse list), N. Kumar (collapse list), A. Kupsc (collapse list), W. Kühn (collapse list), Q. Lan (collapse list), W. N. Lan (collapse list), T. T. Lei (collapse list), M. Lellmann (collapse list), T. Lenz (collapse list), C. Li (collapse list), C. Li (collapse list), C. H. Li (collapse list), C. K. Li (collapse list), D. M. Li (collapse list), F. Li (collapse list), G. Li (collapse list), H. B. Li (collapse list), H. J. Li (collapse list), H. L. Li (collapse list), H. N. Li (collapse list), Hui Li (collapse list), J. R. Li (collapse list), J. S. Li (collapse list), J. W. Li (collapse list), K. Li (collapse list), K. L. Li (collapse list), L. J. Li (collapse list), Lei Li (collapse list), M. H. Li (collapse list), M. R. Li (collapse list), P. L. Li (collapse list), P. R. Li (collapse list), Q. M. Li (collapse list), Q. X. Li (collapse list), R. Li (collapse list), S. X. Li (collapse list), Shanshan Li (collapse list), T. Li (collapse list), T. Y. Li (collapse list), W. D. Li (collapse list), W. G. Li (collapse list), X. Li (collapse list), X. H. Li (collapse list), X. K. Li (collapse list), X. L. Li (collapse list), X. Y. Li (collapse list), X. Z. Li (collapse list), Y. Li (collapse list), Y. G. Li (collapse list), Y. P. Li (collapse list), Z. H. Li (collapse list), Z. J. Li (collapse list), Z. X. Li (collapse list), Z. Y. Li (collapse list), C. Liang (collapse list), H. Liang (collapse list), Y. F. Liang (collapse list), Y. T. Liang (collapse list), G. R. Liao (collapse list), L. B. Liao (collapse list), M. H. Liao (collapse list), Y. P. Liao (collapse list), J. Libby (collapse list), A. Limphirat (collapse list), D. X. Lin (collapse list), L. Q. Lin (collapse list), T. Lin (collapse list), B. J. Liu (collapse list), B. X. Liu (collapse list), C. X. Liu (collapse list), F. Liu (collapse list), F. H. Liu (collapse list), Feng Liu (collapse list), G. M. Liu (collapse list), H. Liu (collapse list), H. B. Liu (collapse list), H. H. Liu (collapse list), H. M. Liu (collapse list), Huihui Liu (collapse list), J. B. Liu (collapse list), J. J. Liu (collapse list), K. Liu (collapse list), K. Liu (collapse list), K. Y. Liu (collapse list), Ke Liu (collapse list), L. Liu (collapse list), L. C. Liu (collapse list), Lu Liu (collapse list), M. H. Liu (collapse list), P. L. Liu (collapse list), Q. Liu (collapse list), S. B. Liu (collapse list), W. M. Liu (collapse list), W. T. Liu (collapse list), X. Liu (collapse list), X. K. Liu (collapse list), X. L. Liu (collapse list), X. Y. Liu (collapse list), Y. Liu (collapse list), Y. Liu (collapse list), Y. B. Liu (collapse list), Z. A. Liu (collapse list), Z. D. Liu (collapse list), Z. Q. Liu (collapse list), Z. Y. Liu (collapse list), X. C. Lou (collapse list), H. J. Lu (collapse list), J. G. Lu (collapse list), X. L. Lu (collapse list), Y. Lu (collapse list), Y. H. Lu (collapse list), Y. P. Lu (collapse list), Z. H. Lu (collapse list), C. L. Luo (collapse list), J. R. Luo (collapse list), J. S. Luo (collapse list), M. X. Luo (collapse list), T. Luo (collapse list), X. L. Luo (collapse list), Z. Y. Lv (collapse list), X. R. Lyu (collapse list), Y. F. Lyu (collapse list), Y. H. Lyu (collapse list), F. C. Ma (collapse list), H. L. Ma (collapse list), Heng Ma (collapse list), J. L. Ma (collapse list), L. L. Ma (collapse list), L. R. Ma (collapse list), Q. M. Ma (collapse list), R. Q. Ma (collapse list), R. Y. Ma (collapse list), T. Ma (collapse list), X. T. Ma (collapse list), X. Y. Ma (collapse list), Y. M. Ma (collapse list), F. E. Maas (collapse list), I. MacKay (collapse list), M. Maggiora (collapse list), S. Malde (collapse list), Q. A. Malik (collapse list), H. X. Mao (collapse list), Y. J. Mao (collapse list), Z. P. Mao (collapse list), S. Marcello (collapse list), A. Marshall (collapse list), F. M. Melendi (collapse list), Y. H. Meng (collapse list), Z. X. Meng (collapse list), G. Mezzadri (collapse list), H. Miao (collapse list), T. J. Min (collapse list), R. E. Mitchell (collapse list), X. H. Mo (collapse list), B. Moses (collapse list), N. Yu. Muchnoi (collapse list), J. Muskalla (collapse list), Y. Nefedov (collapse list), F. Nerling (collapse list), H. Neuwirth (collapse list), Z. Ning (collapse list), S. Nisar (collapse list), Q. L. Niu (collapse list), W. D. Niu (collapse list), Y. Niu (collapse list), C. Normand (collapse list), S. L. Olsen (collapse list), Q. Ouyang (collapse list), S. Pacetti (collapse list), X. Pan (collapse list), Y. Pan (collapse list), A. Pathak (collapse list), Y. P. Pei (collapse list), M. Pelizaeus (collapse list), H. P. Peng (collapse list), X. J. Peng (collapse list), Y. Y. Peng (collapse list), K. Peters (collapse list), K. Petridis (collapse list), J. L. Ping (collapse list), R. G. Ping (collapse list), S. Plura (collapse list), V. Prasad (collapse list), F. Z. Qi (collapse list), H. R. Qi (collapse list), M. Qi (collapse list), S. Qian (collapse list), W. B. Qian (collapse list), C. F. Qiao (collapse list), J. H. Qiao (collapse list), J. J. Qin (collapse list), J. L. Qin (collapse list), L. Q. Qin (collapse list), L. Y. Qin (collapse list), P. B. Qin (collapse list), X. P. Qin (collapse list), X. S. Qin (collapse list), Z. H. Qin (collapse list), J. F. Qiu (collapse list), Z. H. Qu (collapse list), J. Rademacker (collapse list), C. F. Redmer (collapse list), A. Rivetti (collapse list), M. Rolo (collapse list), G. Rong (collapse list), S. S. Rong (collapse list), F. Rosini (collapse list), Ch. Rosner (collapse list), M. Q. Ruan (collapse list), N. Salone (collapse list), A. Sarantsev (collapse list), Y. Schelhaas (collapse list), K. Schoenning (collapse list), M. Scodeggio (collapse list), W. Shan (collapse list), X. Y. Shan (collapse list), Z. J. Shang (collapse list), J. F. Shangguan (collapse list), L. G. Shao (collapse list), M. Shao (collapse list), C. P. Shen (collapse list), H. F. Shen (collapse list), W. H. Shen (collapse list), X. Y. Shen (collapse list), B. A. Shi (collapse list), H. Shi (collapse list), J. L. Shi (collapse list), J. Y. Shi (collapse list), S. Y. Shi (collapse list), X. Shi (collapse list), H. L. Song (collapse list), J. J. Song (collapse list), M. H. Song (collapse list), T. Z. Song (collapse list), W. M. Song (collapse list), Y. X. Song (collapse list), Zirong Song (collapse list), S. Sosio (collapse list), S. Spataro (collapse list), S. Stansilaus (collapse list), F. Stieler (collapse list), S. S Su (collapse list), G. B. Sun (collapse list), G. X. Sun (collapse list), H. Sun (collapse list), H. K. Sun (collapse list), J. F. Sun (collapse list), K. Sun (collapse list), L. Sun (collapse list), R. Sun (collapse list), S. S. Sun (collapse list), T. Sun (collapse list), W. Y. Sun (collapse list), Y. C. Sun (collapse list), Y. H. Sun (collapse list), Y. J. Sun (collapse list), Y. Z. Sun (collapse list), Z. Q. Sun (collapse list), Z. T. Sun (collapse list), C. J. Tang (collapse list), G. Y. Tang (collapse list), J. Tang (collapse list), J. J. Tang (collapse list), L. F. Tang (collapse list), Y. A. Tang (collapse list), L. Y. Tao (collapse list), M. Tat (collapse list), J. X. Teng (collapse list), J. Y. Tian (collapse list), W. H. Tian (collapse list), Y. Tian (collapse list), Z. F. Tian (collapse list), I. Uman (collapse list), B. Wang (collapse list), B. Wang (collapse list), Bo Wang (collapse list), C. Wang (collapse list), C. Wang (collapse list), Cong Wang (collapse list), D. Y. Wang (collapse list), H. J. Wang (collapse list), J. Wang (collapse list), J. J. Wang (collapse list), J. P. Wang (collapse list), K. Wang (collapse list), L. L. Wang (collapse list), L. W. Wang (collapse list), M. Wang (collapse list), M. Wang (collapse list), N. Y. Wang (collapse list), S. Wang (collapse list), Shun Wang (collapse list), T. Wang (collapse list), T. J. Wang (collapse list), W. Wang (collapse list), W. P. Wang (collapse list), X. Wang (collapse list), X. F. Wang (collapse list), X. L. Wang (collapse list), X. N. Wang (collapse list), Xin Wang (collapse list), Y. Wang (collapse list), Y. D. Wang (collapse list), Y. F. Wang (collapse list), Y. H. Wang (collapse list), Y. J. Wang (collapse list), Y. L. Wang (collapse list), Y. N. Wang (collapse list), Y. N. Wang (collapse list), Yaqian Wang (collapse list), Yi Wang (collapse list), Yuan Wang (collapse list), Z. Wang (collapse list), Z. Wang (collapse list), Z. L. Wang (collapse list), Z. Q. Wang (collapse list), Z. Y. Wang (collapse list), Ziyi Wang (collapse list), D. Wei (collapse list), D. H. Wei (collapse list), H. R. Wei (collapse list), F. Weidner (collapse list), S. P. Wen (collapse list), U. Wiedner (collapse list), G. Wilkinson (collapse list), M. Wolke (collapse list), J. F. Wu (collapse list), L. H. Wu (collapse list), L. J. Wu (collapse list), L. J. Wu (collapse list), Lianjie Wu (collapse list), S. G. Wu (collapse list), S. M. Wu (collapse list), X. Wu (collapse list), Y. J. Wu (collapse list), Z. Wu (collapse list), L. Xia (collapse list), B. H. Xiang (collapse list), D. Xiao (collapse list), G. Y. Xiao (collapse list), H. Xiao (collapse list), Y. L. Xiao (collapse list), Z. J. Xiao (collapse list), C. Xie (collapse list), K. J. Xie (collapse list), Y. Xie (collapse list), Y. G. Xie (collapse list), Y. H. Xie (collapse list), Z. P. Xie (collapse list), T. Y. Xing (collapse list), C. J. Xu (collapse list), G. F. Xu (collapse list), H. Y. Xu (collapse list), M. Xu (collapse list), Q. J. Xu (collapse list), Q. N. Xu (collapse list), T. D. Xu (collapse list), X. P. Xu (collapse list), Y. Xu (collapse list), Y. C. Xu (collapse list), Z. S. Xu (collapse list), F. Yan (collapse list), L. Yan (collapse list), W. B. Yan (collapse list), W. C. Yan (collapse list), W. H. Yan (collapse list), W. P. Yan (collapse list), X. Q. Yan (collapse list), H. J. Yang (collapse list), H. L. Yang (collapse list), H. X. Yang (collapse list), J. H. Yang (collapse list), R. J. Yang (collapse list), Y. Yang (collapse list), Y. H. Yang (collapse list), Y. Q. Yang (collapse list), Y. Z. Yang (collapse list), Z. P. Yao (collapse list), M. Ye (collapse list), M. H. Ye (collapse list), Z. J. Ye (collapse list), Junhao Yin (collapse list), Z. Y. You (collapse list), B. X. Yu (collapse list), C. X. Yu (collapse list), G. Yu (collapse list), J. S. Yu (collapse list), L. W. Yu (collapse list), T. Yu (collapse list), X. D. Yu (collapse list), Y. C. Yu (collapse list), Y. C. Yu (collapse list), C. Z. Yuan (collapse list), H. Yuan (collapse list), J. Yuan (collapse list), J. Yuan (collapse list), L. Yuan (collapse list), M. K. Yuan (collapse list), S. H. Yuan (collapse list), Y. Yuan (collapse list), C. X. Yue (collapse list), Ying Yue (collapse list), A. A. Zafar (collapse list), F. R. Zeng (collapse list), S. H. Zeng (collapse list), X. Zeng (collapse list), Yujie Zeng (collapse list), Y. J. Zeng (collapse list), Y. C. Zhai (collapse list), Y. H. Zhan (collapse list), Shunan Zhang (collapse list), B. L. Zhang (collapse list), B. X. Zhang (collapse list), D. H. Zhang (collapse list), G. Y. Zhang (collapse list), G. Y. Zhang (collapse list), H. Zhang (collapse list), H. Zhang (collapse list), H. C. Zhang (collapse list), H. H. Zhang (collapse list), H. Q. Zhang (collapse list), H. R. Zhang (collapse list), H. Y. Zhang (collapse list), J. Zhang (collapse list), J. J. Zhang (collapse list), J. L. Zhang (collapse list), J. Q. Zhang (collapse list), J. S. Zhang (collapse list), J. W. Zhang (collapse list), J. X. Zhang (collapse list), J. Y. Zhang (collapse list), J. Z. Zhang (collapse list), Jianyu Zhang (collapse list), L. M. Zhang (collapse list), Lei Zhang (collapse list), N. Zhang (collapse list), P. Zhang (collapse list), Q. Zhang (collapse list), Q. Y. Zhang (collapse list), R. Y. Zhang (collapse list), S. H. Zhang (collapse list), Shulei Zhang (collapse list), X. M. Zhang (collapse list), X. Y. Zhang (collapse list), Y. Zhang (collapse list), Y. Zhang (collapse list), Y. T. Zhang (collapse list), Y. H. Zhang (collapse list), Y. P. Zhang (collapse list), Z. D. Zhang (collapse list), Z. H. Zhang (collapse list), Z. L. Zhang (collapse list), Z. L. Zhang (collapse list), Z. X. Zhang (collapse list), Z. Y. Zhang (collapse list), Z. Y. Zhang (collapse list), Z. Z. Zhang (collapse list), Zh. Zh. Zhang (collapse list), G. Zhao (collapse list), J. Y. Zhao (collapse list), J. Z. Zhao (collapse list), L. Zhao (collapse list), L. Zhao (collapse list), M. G. Zhao (collapse list), S. J. Zhao (collapse list), Y. B. Zhao (collapse list), Y. L. Zhao (collapse list), Y. X. Zhao (collapse list), Z. G. Zhao (collapse list), A. Zhemchugov (collapse list), B. Zheng (collapse list), B. M. Zheng (collapse list), J. P. Zheng (collapse list), W. J. Zheng (collapse list), X. R. Zheng (collapse list), Y. H. Zheng (collapse list), B. Zhong (collapse list), C. Zhong (collapse list), H. Zhou (collapse list), J. Q. Zhou (collapse list), S. Zhou (collapse list), X. Zhou (collapse list), X. K. Zhou (collapse list), X. R. Zhou (collapse list), X. Y. Zhou (collapse list), Y. X. Zhou (collapse list), Y. Z. Zhou (collapse list), A. N. Zhu (collapse list), J. Zhu (collapse list), K. Zhu (collapse list), K. J. Zhu (collapse list), K. S. Zhu (collapse list), L. Zhu (collapse list), L. X. Zhu (collapse list), S. H. Zhu (collapse list), T. J. Zhu (collapse list), W. D. Zhu (collapse list), W. J. Zhu (collapse list), W. Z. Zhu (collapse list), Y. C. Zhu (collapse list), Z. A. Zhu (collapse list), X. Y. Zhuang (collapse list), J. H. Zou (collapse list), J. Zu (collapse list)

Published 2026-08-18

📖 4 min read🧠 Deep dive

CC BY 4.0

Original authors: BESIII Collaboration, M. Ablikim (collapse list), M. N. Achasov (collapse list), P. Adlarson (collapse list), X. C. Ai (collapse list), R. Aliberti (collapse list), A. Amoroso (collapse list), Q. An (collapse list), Y. Bai (collapse list), O. Bakina (collapse list), Y. Ban (collapse list), H. -R. Bao (collapse list), V. Batozskaya (collapse list), K. Begzsuren (collapse list), N. Berger (collapse list), M. Berlowski (collapse list), M. B. Bertani (collapse list), D. Bettoni (collapse list), F. Bianchi (collapse list), E. Bianco (collapse list), A. Bortone (collapse list), I. Boyko (collapse list), R. A. Briere (collapse list), A. Brueggemann (collapse list), H. Cai (collapse list), M. H. Cai (collapse list), X. Cai (collapse list), A. Calcaterra (collapse list), G. F. Cao (collapse list), N. Cao (collapse list), S. A. Cetin (collapse list), X. Y. Chai (collapse list), J. F. Chang (collapse list), T. T. Chang (collapse list), G. R. Che (collapse list), Y. Z. Che (collapse list), C. H. Chen (collapse list), Chao Chen (collapse list), G. Chen (collapse list), H. S. Chen (collapse list), H. Y. Chen (collapse list), M. L. Chen (collapse list), S. J. Chen (collapse list), S. M. Chen (collapse list), T. Chen (collapse list), X. R. Chen (collapse list), X. T. Chen (collapse list), X. Y. Chen (collapse list), Y. B. Chen (collapse list), Y. Q. Chen (collapse list), Z. K. Chen (collapse list), J. C. Cheng (collapse list), L. N. Cheng (collapse list), S. K. Choi (collapse list), X. Chu (collapse list), G. Cibinetto (collapse list), F. Cossio (collapse list), J. Cottee-Meldrum (collapse list), H. L. Dai (collapse list), J. P. Dai (collapse list), X. C. Dai (collapse list), A. Dbeyssi (collapse list), R. E. de Boer (collapse list), D. Dedovich (collapse list), C. Q. Deng (collapse list), Z. Y. Deng (collapse list), A. Denig (collapse list), I. Denisenko (collapse list), M. Destefanis (collapse list), F. De Mori (collapse list), X. X. Ding (collapse list), Y. Ding (collapse list), Y. X. Ding (collapse list), J. Dong (collapse list), L. Y. Dong (collapse list), M. Y. Dong (collapse list), X. Dong (collapse list), M. C. Du (collapse list), S. X. Du (collapse list), S. X. Du (collapse list), X. L. Du (collapse list), Y. Y. Duan (collapse list), Z. H. Duan (collapse list), P. Egorov (collapse list), G. F. Fan (collapse list), J. J. Fan (collapse list), Y. H. Fan (collapse list), J. Fang (collapse list), J. Fang (collapse list), S. S. Fang (collapse list), W. X. Fang (collapse list), Y. Q. Fang (collapse list), L. Fava (collapse list), F. Feldbauer (collapse list), G. Felici (collapse list), C. Q. Feng (collapse list), J. H. Feng (collapse list), L. Feng (collapse list), Q. X. Feng (collapse list), Y. T. Feng (collapse list), M. Fritsch (collapse list), C. D. Fu (collapse list), J. L. Fu (collapse list), Y. W. Fu (collapse list), H. Gao (collapse list), Y. Gao (collapse list), Y. N. Gao (collapse list), Y. N. Gao (collapse list), Y. Y. Gao (collapse list), Z. Gao (collapse list), S. Garbolino (collapse list), I. Garzia (collapse list), L. Ge (collapse list), P. T. Ge (collapse list), Z. W. Ge (collapse list), C. Geng (collapse list), E. M. Gersabeck (collapse list), A. Gilman (collapse list), K. Goetzen (collapse list), J. D. Gong (collapse list), L. Gong (collapse list), W. X. Gong (collapse list), W. Gradl (collapse list), S. Gramigna (collapse list), M. Greco (collapse list), M. D. Gu (collapse list), M. H. Gu (collapse list), C. Y. Guan (collapse list), A. Q. Guo (collapse list), J. N. Guo (collapse list), L. B. Guo (collapse list), M. J. Guo (collapse list), R. P. Guo (collapse list), X. Guo (collapse list), Y. P. Guo (collapse list), A. Guskov (collapse list), J. Gutierrez (collapse list), T. T. Han (collapse list), F. Hanisch (collapse list), K. D. Hao (collapse list), X. Q. Hao (collapse list), F. A. Harris (collapse list), C. Z. He (collapse list), K. L. He (collapse list), F. H. Heinsius (collapse list), C. H. Heinz (collapse list), Y. K. Heng (collapse list), C. Herold (collapse list), P. C. Hong (collapse list), G. Y. Hou (collapse list), X. T. Hou (collapse list), Y. R. Hou (collapse list), Z. L. Hou (collapse list), H. M. Hu (collapse list), J. F. Hu (collapse list), Q. P. Hu (collapse list), S. L. Hu (collapse list), T. Hu (collapse list), Y. Hu (collapse list), Z. M. Hu (collapse list), G. S. Huang (collapse list), K. X. Huang (collapse list), L. Q. Huang (collapse list), P. Huang (collapse list), X. T. Huang (collapse list), Y. P. Huang (collapse list), Y. S. Huang (collapse list), T. Hussain (collapse list), N. Hüsken (collapse list), N. in der Wiesche (collapse list), J. Jackson (collapse list), Q. Ji (collapse list), Q. P. Ji (collapse list), W. Ji (collapse list), X. B. Ji (collapse list), X. L. Ji (collapse list), X. Q. Jia (collapse list), Z. K. Jia (collapse list), D. Jiang (collapse list), H. B. Jiang (collapse list), P. C. Jiang (collapse list), S. J. Jiang (collapse list), X. S. Jiang (collapse list), Y. Jiang (collapse list), J. B. Jiao (collapse list), J. K. Jiao (collapse list), Z. Jiao (collapse list), S. Jin (collapse list), Y. Jin (collapse list), M. Q. Jing (collapse list), X. M. Jing (collapse list), T. Johansson (collapse list), S. Kabana (collapse list), N. Kalantar-Nayestanaki (collapse list), X. L. Kang (collapse list), X. S. Kang (collapse list), M. Kavatsyuk (collapse list), B. C. Ke (collapse list), V. Khachatryan (collapse list), A. Khoukaz (collapse list), O. B. Kolcu (collapse list), B. Kopf (collapse list), L. Kröger (collapse list), M. Kuessner (collapse list), X. Kui (collapse list), N. Kumar (collapse list), A. Kupsc (collapse list), W. Kühn (collapse list), Q. Lan (collapse list), W. N. Lan (collapse list), T. T. Lei (collapse list), M. Lellmann (collapse list), T. Lenz (collapse list), C. Li (collapse list), C. Li (collapse list), C. H. Li (collapse list), C. K. Li (collapse list), D. M. Li (collapse list), F. Li (collapse list), G. Li (collapse list), H. B. Li (collapse list), H. J. Li (collapse list), H. L. Li (collapse list), H. N. Li (collapse list), Hui Li (collapse list), J. R. Li (collapse list), J. S. Li (collapse list), J. W. Li (collapse list), K. Li (collapse list), K. L. Li (collapse list), L. J. Li (collapse list), Lei Li (collapse list), M. H. Li (collapse list), M. R. Li (collapse list), P. L. Li (collapse list), P. R. Li (collapse list), Q. M. Li (collapse list), Q. X. Li (collapse list), R. Li (collapse list), S. X. Li (collapse list), Shanshan Li (collapse list), T. Li (collapse list), T. Y. Li (collapse list), W. D. Li (collapse list), W. G. Li (collapse list), X. Li (collapse list), X. H. Li (collapse list), X. K. Li (collapse list), X. L. Li (collapse list), X. Y. Li (collapse list), X. Z. Li (collapse list), Y. Li (collapse list), Y. G. Li (collapse list), Y. P. Li (collapse list), Z. H. Li (collapse list), Z. J. Li (collapse list), Z. X. Li (collapse list), Z. Y. Li (collapse list), C. Liang (collapse list), H. Liang (collapse list), Y. F. Liang (collapse list), Y. T. Liang (collapse list), G. R. Liao (collapse list), L. B. Liao (collapse list), M. H. Liao (collapse list), Y. P. Liao (collapse list), J. Libby (collapse list), A. Limphirat (collapse list), D. X. Lin (collapse list), L. Q. Lin (collapse list), T. Lin (collapse list), B. J. Liu (collapse list), B. X. Liu (collapse list), C. X. Liu (collapse list), F. Liu (collapse list), F. H. Liu (collapse list), Feng Liu (collapse list), G. M. Liu (collapse list), H. Liu (collapse list), H. B. Liu (collapse list), H. H. Liu (collapse list), H. M. Liu (collapse list), Huihui Liu (collapse list), J. B. Liu (collapse list), J. J. Liu (collapse list), K. Liu (collapse list), K. Liu (collapse list), K. Y. Liu (collapse list), Ke Liu (collapse list), L. Liu (collapse list), L. C. Liu (collapse list), Lu Liu (collapse list), M. H. Liu (collapse list), P. L. Liu (collapse list), Q. Liu (collapse list), S. B. Liu (collapse list), W. M. Liu (collapse list), W. T. Liu (collapse list), X. Liu (collapse list), X. K. Liu (collapse list), X. L. Liu (collapse list), X. Y. Liu (collapse list), Y. Liu (collapse list), Y. Liu (collapse list), Y. B. Liu (collapse list), Z. A. Liu (collapse list), Z. D. Liu (collapse list), Z. Q. Liu (collapse list), Z. Y. Liu (collapse list), X. C. Lou (collapse list), H. J. Lu (collapse list), J. G. Lu (collapse list), X. L. Lu (collapse list), Y. Lu (collapse list), Y. H. Lu (collapse list), Y. P. Lu (collapse list), Z. H. Lu (collapse list), C. L. Luo (collapse list), J. R. Luo (collapse list), J. S. Luo (collapse list), M. X. Luo (collapse list), T. Luo (collapse list), X. L. Luo (collapse list), Z. Y. Lv (collapse list), X. R. Lyu (collapse list), Y. F. Lyu (collapse list), Y. H. Lyu (collapse list), F. C. Ma (collapse list), H. L. Ma (collapse list), Heng Ma (collapse list), J. L. Ma (collapse list), L. L. Ma (collapse list), L. R. Ma (collapse list), Q. M. Ma (collapse list), R. Q. Ma (collapse list), R. Y. Ma (collapse list), T. Ma (collapse list), X. T. Ma (collapse list), X. Y. Ma (collapse list), Y. M. Ma (collapse list), F. E. Maas (collapse list), I. MacKay (collapse list), M. Maggiora (collapse list), S. Malde (collapse list), Q. A. Malik (collapse list), H. X. Mao (collapse list), Y. J. Mao (collapse list), Z. P. Mao (collapse list), S. Marcello (collapse list), A. Marshall (collapse list), F. M. Melendi (collapse list), Y. H. Meng (collapse list), Z. X. Meng (collapse list), G. Mezzadri (collapse list), H. Miao (collapse list), T. J. Min (collapse list), R. E. Mitchell (collapse list), X. H. Mo (collapse list), B. Moses (collapse list), N. Yu. Muchnoi (collapse list), J. Muskalla (collapse list), Y. Nefedov (collapse list), F. Nerling (collapse list), H. Neuwirth (collapse list), Z. Ning (collapse list), S. Nisar (collapse list), Q. L. Niu (collapse list), W. D. Niu (collapse list), Y. Niu (collapse list), C. Normand (collapse list), S. L. Olsen (collapse list), Q. Ouyang (collapse list), S. Pacetti (collapse list), X. Pan (collapse list), Y. Pan (collapse list), A. Pathak (collapse list), Y. P. Pei (collapse list), M. Pelizaeus (collapse list), H. P. Peng (collapse list), X. J. Peng (collapse list), Y. Y. Peng (collapse list), K. Peters (collapse list), K. Petridis (collapse list), J. L. Ping (collapse list), R. G. Ping (collapse list), S. Plura (collapse list), V. Prasad (collapse list), F. Z. Qi (collapse list), H. R. Qi (collapse list), M. Qi (collapse list), S. Qian (collapse list), W. B. Qian (collapse list), C. F. Qiao (collapse list), J. H. Qiao (collapse list), J. J. Qin (collapse list), J. L. Qin (collapse list), L. Q. Qin (collapse list), L. Y. Qin (collapse list), P. B. Qin (collapse list), X. P. Qin (collapse list), X. S. Qin (collapse list), Z. H. Qin (collapse list), J. F. Qiu (collapse list), Z. H. Qu (collapse list), J. Rademacker (collapse list), C. F. Redmer (collapse list), A. Rivetti (collapse list), M. Rolo (collapse list), G. Rong (collapse list), S. S. Rong (collapse list), F. Rosini (collapse list), Ch. Rosner (collapse list), M. Q. Ruan (collapse list), N. Salone (collapse list), A. Sarantsev (collapse list), Y. Schelhaas (collapse list), K. Schoenning (collapse list), M. Scodeggio (collapse list), W. Shan (collapse list), X. Y. Shan (collapse list), Z. J. Shang (collapse list), J. F. Shangguan (collapse list), L. G. Shao (collapse list), M. Shao (collapse list), C. P. Shen (collapse list), H. F. Shen (collapse list), W. H. Shen (collapse list), X. Y. Shen (collapse list), B. A. Shi (collapse list), H. Shi (collapse list), J. L. Shi (collapse list), J. Y. Shi (collapse list), S. Y. Shi (collapse list), X. Shi (collapse list), H. L. Song (collapse list), J. J. Song (collapse list), M. H. Song (collapse list), T. Z. Song (collapse list), W. M. Song (collapse list), Y. X. Song (collapse list), Zirong Song (collapse list), S. Sosio (collapse list), S. Spataro (collapse list), S. Stansilaus (collapse list), F. Stieler (collapse list), S. S Su (collapse list), G. B. Sun (collapse list), G. X. Sun (collapse list), H. Sun (collapse list), H. K. Sun (collapse list), J. F. Sun (collapse list), K. Sun (collapse list), L. Sun (collapse list), R. Sun (collapse list), S. S. Sun (collapse list), T. Sun (collapse list), W. Y. Sun (collapse list), Y. C. Sun (collapse list), Y. H. Sun (collapse list), Y. J. Sun (collapse list), Y. Z. Sun (collapse list), Z. Q. Sun (collapse list), Z. T. Sun (collapse list), C. J. Tang (collapse list), G. Y. Tang (collapse list), J. Tang (collapse list), J. J. Tang (collapse list), L. F. Tang (collapse list), Y. A. Tang (collapse list), L. Y. Tao (collapse list), M. Tat (collapse list), J. X. Teng (collapse list), J. Y. Tian (collapse list), W. H. Tian (collapse list), Y. Tian (collapse list), Z. F. Tian (collapse list), I. Uman (collapse list), B. Wang (collapse list), B. Wang (collapse list), Bo Wang (collapse list), C. Wang (collapse list), C. Wang (collapse list), Cong Wang (collapse list), D. Y. Wang (collapse list), H. J. Wang (collapse list), J. Wang (collapse list), J. J. Wang (collapse list), J. P. Wang (collapse list), K. Wang (collapse list), L. L. Wang (collapse list), L. W. Wang (collapse list), M. Wang (collapse list), M. Wang (collapse list), N. Y. Wang (collapse list), S. Wang (collapse list), Shun Wang (collapse list), T. Wang (collapse list), T. J. Wang (collapse list), W. Wang (collapse list), W. P. Wang (collapse list), X. Wang (collapse list), X. F. Wang (collapse list), X. L. Wang (collapse list), X. N. Wang (collapse list), Xin Wang (collapse list), Y. Wang (collapse list), Y. D. Wang (collapse list), Y. F. Wang (collapse list), Y. H. Wang (collapse list), Y. J. Wang (collapse list), Y. L. Wang (collapse list), Y. N. Wang (collapse list), Y. N. Wang (collapse list), Yaqian Wang (collapse list), Yi Wang (collapse list), Yuan Wang (collapse list), Z. Wang (collapse list), Z. Wang (collapse list), Z. L. Wang (collapse list), Z. Q. Wang (collapse list), Z. Y. Wang (collapse list), Ziyi Wang (collapse list), D. Wei (collapse list), D. H. Wei (collapse list), H. R. Wei (collapse list), F. Weidner (collapse list), S. P. Wen (collapse list), U. Wiedner (collapse list), G. Wilkinson (collapse list), M. Wolke (collapse list), J. F. Wu (collapse list), L. H. Wu (collapse list), L. J. Wu (collapse list), L. J. Wu (collapse list), Lianjie Wu (collapse list), S. G. Wu (collapse list), S. M. Wu (collapse list), X. Wu (collapse list), Y. J. Wu (collapse list), Z. Wu (collapse list), L. Xia (collapse list), B. H. Xiang (collapse list), D. Xiao (collapse list), G. Y. Xiao (collapse list), H. Xiao (collapse list), Y. L. Xiao (collapse list), Z. J. Xiao (collapse list), C. Xie (collapse list), K. J. Xie (collapse list), Y. Xie (collapse list), Y. G. Xie (collapse list), Y. H. Xie (collapse list), Z. P. Xie (collapse list), T. Y. Xing (collapse list), C. J. Xu (collapse list), G. F. Xu (collapse list), H. Y. Xu (collapse list), M. Xu (collapse list), Q. J. Xu (collapse list), Q. N. Xu (collapse list), T. D. Xu (collapse list), X. P. Xu (collapse list), Y. Xu (collapse list), Y. C. Xu (collapse list), Z. S. Xu (collapse list), F. Yan (collapse list), L. Yan (collapse list), W. B. Yan (collapse list), W. C. Yan (collapse list), W. H. Yan (collapse list), W. P. Yan (collapse list), X. Q. Yan (collapse list), H. J. Yang (collapse list), H. L. Yang (collapse list), H. X. Yang (collapse list), J. H. Yang (collapse list), R. J. Yang (collapse list), Y. Yang (collapse list), Y. H. Yang (collapse list), Y. Q. Yang (collapse list), Y. Z. Yang (collapse list), Z. P. Yao (collapse list), M. Ye (collapse list), M. H. Ye (collapse list), Z. J. Ye (collapse list), Junhao Yin (collapse list), Z. Y. You (collapse list), B. X. Yu (collapse list), C. X. Yu (collapse list), G. Yu (collapse list), J. S. Yu (collapse list), L. W. Yu (collapse list), T. Yu (collapse list), X. D. Yu (collapse list), Y. C. Yu (collapse list), Y. C. Yu (collapse list), C. Z. Yuan (collapse list), H. Yuan (collapse list), J. Yuan (collapse list), J. Yuan (collapse list), L. Yuan (collapse list), M. K. Yuan (collapse list), S. H. Yuan (collapse list), Y. Yuan (collapse list), C. X. Yue (collapse list), Ying Yue (collapse list), A. A. Zafar (collapse list), F. R. Zeng (collapse list), S. H. Zeng (collapse list), X. Zeng (collapse list), Yujie Zeng (collapse list), Y. J. Zeng (collapse list), Y. C. Zhai (collapse list), Y. H. Zhan (collapse list), Shunan Zhang (collapse list), B. L. Zhang (collapse list), B. X. Zhang (collapse list), D. H. Zhang (collapse list), G. Y. Zhang (collapse list), G. Y. Zhang (collapse list), H. Zhang (collapse list), H. Zhang (collapse list), H. C. Zhang (collapse list), H. H. Zhang (collapse list), H. Q. Zhang (collapse list), H. R. Zhang (collapse list), H. Y. Zhang (collapse list), J. Zhang (collapse list), J. J. Zhang (collapse list), J. L. Zhang (collapse list), J. Q. Zhang (collapse list), J. S. Zhang (collapse list), J. W. Zhang (collapse list), J. X. Zhang (collapse list), J. Y. Zhang (collapse list), J. Z. Zhang (collapse list), Jianyu Zhang (collapse list), L. M. Zhang (collapse list), Lei Zhang (collapse list), N. Zhang (collapse list), P. Zhang (collapse list), Q. Zhang (collapse list), Q. Y. Zhang (collapse list), R. Y. Zhang (collapse list), S. H. Zhang (collapse list), Shulei Zhang (collapse list), X. M. Zhang (collapse list), X. Y. Zhang (collapse list), Y. Zhang (collapse list), Y. Zhang (collapse list), Y. T. Zhang (collapse list), Y. H. Zhang (collapse list), Y. P. Zhang (collapse list), Z. D. Zhang (collapse list), Z. H. Zhang (collapse list), Z. L. Zhang (collapse list), Z. L. Zhang (collapse list), Z. X. Zhang (collapse list), Z. Y. Zhang (collapse list), Z. Y. Zhang (collapse list), Z. Z. Zhang (collapse list), Zh. Zh. Zhang (collapse list), G. Zhao (collapse list), J. Y. Zhao (collapse list), J. Z. Zhao (collapse list), L. Zhao (collapse list), L. Zhao (collapse list), M. G. Zhao (collapse list), S. J. Zhao (collapse list), Y. B. Zhao (collapse list), Y. L. Zhao (collapse list), Y. X. Zhao (collapse list), Z. G. Zhao (collapse list), A. Zhemchugov (collapse list), B. Zheng (collapse list), B. M. Zheng (collapse list), J. P. Zheng (collapse list), W. J. Zheng (collapse list), X. R. Zheng (collapse list), Y. H. Zheng (collapse list), B. Zhong (collapse list), C. Zhong (collapse list), H. Zhou (collapse list), J. Q. Zhou (collapse list), S. Zhou (collapse list), X. Zhou (collapse list), X. K. Zhou (collapse list), X. R. Zhou (collapse list), X. Y. Zhou (collapse list), Y. X. Zhou (collapse list), Y. Z. Zhou (collapse list), A. N. Zhu (collapse list), J. Zhu (collapse list), K. Zhu (collapse list), K. J. Zhu (collapse list), K. S. Zhu (collapse list), L. Zhu (collapse list), L. X. Zhu (collapse list), S. H. Zhu (collapse list), T. J. Zhu (collapse list), W. D. Zhu (collapse list), W. J. Zhu (collapse list), W. Z. Zhu (collapse list), Y. C. Zhu (collapse list), Z. A. Zhu (collapse list), X. Y. Zhuang (collapse list), J. H. Zou (collapse list), J. Zu (collapse list)

Original paper licensed under CC BY 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). ✨ This is an AI-generated explanation of the paper below. It is not written or endorsed by the authors. For technical accuracy, refer to the original paper. Read full disclaimer

In the subatomic world, matter is built from a small family of particles called hyperons. These are heavy cousins of the protons and neutrons that make up our own bodies, but they are unstable and vanish almost instantly after being created. Among these, the neutral sigma hyperon holds a special place because of how it disappears. While most particles of its kind decay by breaking apart into other heavy particles, the neutral sigma hyperon is unique: it almost always transforms into a lighter hyperon called a lambda by emitting a single particle of light, known as a photon. This process is governed by the electromagnetic force, the same invisible interaction that holds atoms together and allows magnets to stick to refrigerators. Because this decay happens so cleanly and is driven by light, it offers scientists a rare and clear window to see how the internal structure of these strange particles interacts with the electromagnetic field. By studying exactly how this transformation occurs, researchers can test the fundamental rules of physics that describe the building blocks of the universe.

A team of physicists working with the BESIII detector at the Beijing Electron Positron Collider has now taken the first experimental step to observe a very specific, and previously unseen, variation of this decay. Instead of simply emitting a single photon, the neutral sigma hyperon was observed to emit a pair of electrons and positrons (a particle of light that has split into matter and antimatter) during its transformation. This rare event, known as a Dalitz decay, had been predicted by theory decades ago but had never been measured directly. To catch this fleeting moment, the researchers analyzed a massive collection of data containing ten billion collisions of electrons and positrons. In these collisions, the energy was converted into pairs of neutral sigma hyperons and their antimatter counterparts. The team used a clever method to identify the signal: they first reconstructed the decay of one of the hyperons in a standard way, which acted as a tag to confirm the event had occurred, and then looked at the remaining debris to find the rare electron-positron pair from the other hyperon.

The result of this painstaking search is a precise measurement of how often this rare decay happens. The researchers found that for every thousand neutral sigma hyperons that decay, about six of them undergo this specific transformation into a lambda hyperon and an electron-positron pair. This corresponds to a probability, or branching fraction, of approximately 0.00634. This number is slightly higher than the value predicted by standard theoretical calculations, which had estimated a probability of 0.0055. While the difference is small, it is statistically significant enough to suggest that the current theoretical models might need a slight adjustment to fully explain the behavior of these particles. Alongside this measurement, the team calculated a key physical property called the transition magnetic moment, which describes the strength of the magnetic interaction between the two types of hyperons during the decay. They determined this value to be 1.74 times the magnetic moment of a proton. This measurement provides a new, direct look at the internal magnetic structure of the hyperon, filling a gap in our understanding of how these particles behave at low energy levels.

This work represents the first time this specific decay has been observed and measured in a laboratory setting. By confirming the existence of this process and providing a precise number for its frequency, the study validates the experimental techniques needed to probe the electromagnetic structure of hyperons. The slight discrepancy between the measured value and the theoretical prediction invites further investigation, potentially leading to a deeper understanding of the forces that govern the subatomic world. The findings do not overturn existing physics but rather refine it, offering a more detailed map of how matter and light interact at the most fundamental level. With this new data, scientists now have a concrete benchmark to test their theories against, moving one step closer to a complete picture of the universe's smallest building blocks.

Technical Summary: Measurement of Branching Fraction and Transition Magnetic Moment of the Hyperon Dalitz Decay $\Sigma^0 \to \Lambda e^+e^-$

Problem and Motivation
The $\Sigma^0$ hyperon is unique among the ground-state SU(3) hyperons as it decays dominantly via the electromagnetic interaction. While the electromagnetic Dalitz decay $\Sigma^0 \to \Lambda e^+e^-$ was predicted in 1958, it had not been experimentally studied in detail until this work. Theoretical calculations based on Quantum Electrodynamics (QED) predict a branching fraction (BF) of $5.5 \times 10^{-3}$ . However, experimental data in the low momentum-transfer ( $q^2$ ) time-like region has been absent, with previous measurements limited to the 1980s via high-energy $\Lambda$ beam scattering (space-like region) or high- $q^2$ time-like measurements. This gap prevents a comprehensive understanding of the transition form factor (FF) across the full kinematic range and limits insight into the intrinsic quark-gluon structure of hyperons. Furthermore, the transition magnetic moment ( $\mu$ ), a critical parameter describing the $\Sigma^0-\Lambda$ transition vertex, requires precise determination in the low- $q^2$ region to test theoretical models.

Methodology
The study utilizes a data sample of $(10087 \pm 44) \times 10^6$ $J/\psi$ events collected by the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider. The analysis employs a double tag (DT) technique to measure the absolute branching fraction and improve the signal-to-background ratio:

Single Tag (ST): $\Sigma^0$ candidates are reconstructed via the dominant decay mode $\bar{\Sigma}^0 \to \bar{\Lambda}\gamma$ (with $\bar{\Lambda} \to \bar{p}\pi^+$ ). The recoil mass against the reconstructed $\bar{\Sigma}^0$ is used to identify the $J/\psi \to \Sigma^0 \bar{\Sigma}^0$ signal events.
Double Tag (DT): The signal decay $\Sigma^0 \to \Lambda e^+e^-$ is reconstructed from the tracks recoiling against the ST $\bar{\Sigma}^0$ . The $\Lambda$ is reconstructed via $\Lambda \to p\pi^-$ .
Event Selection: Strict kinematic and particle identification (PID) criteria are applied. Charged tracks are required to satisfy momentum and vertex constraints. Electrons are identified using specific ionization energy loss ($dE/dx$) and time-of-flight (TOF) information. A kinematic fit (4C fit) imposing energy and momentum conservation is performed under the hypothesis $J/\psi \to p\bar{p}\pi^+\pi^- \gamma e^+e^-$ .
Background Suppression: A primary background arises from photon conversions ( $\gamma \to e^+e^-$ ) in the beam pipe or drift chamber. This is suppressed using a veto based on the radial distance of the $e^+e^-$ vertex and the invariant mass of the pair.
Yield Extraction: Maximum likelihood fits are performed on the recoil mass distribution for ST yields and the $e^+e^-$ invariant mass ( $M_{e^+e^-}$ ) distribution for DT yields. Signal shapes are derived from Monte Carlo (MC) simulations, while backgrounds are modeled with polynomial functions.

Key Contributions and Results
This paper presents the first experimental study of the $\Sigma^0 \to \Lambda e^+e^-$ Dalitz decay. The absolute branching fraction is calculated using the formula:
$\mathcal{B}(\Sigma^0 \to \Lambda e^+e^-) = \frac{N_{DT}}{N_{ST}} \times \frac{\epsilon_{ST}}{\epsilon_{DT}} \times \frac{1}{\mathcal{B}(\Lambda \to p\pi^-)}$
where $N$ represents yields and $\epsilon$ represents detection efficiencies.

Branching Fraction: The measured absolute branching fraction is:
$\mathcal{B}(\Sigma^0 \to \Lambda e^+e^-) = (6.34 \pm 0.25_{\text{stat}} \pm 0.23_{\text{syst}}) \times 10^{-3}$
This result shows a discrepancy of approximately $2\sigma$ from the theoretical QED prediction of $5.5 \times 10^{-3}$ quoted in the Particle Data Group (PDG).
Transition Magnetic Moment: Using the measured branching fraction and the relation to the magnetic form factor at $q^2=0$ , the transition magnetic moment is determined to be:
$\mu = (1.74 \pm 0.03_{\text{stat}} \pm 0.09_{\text{syst}}) \mu_N$
where $\mu_N$ is the nucleon magnetic moment. This value is consistent with the PDG average within $2\sigma$ .
Systematic Uncertainties: Systematic uncertainties are evaluated for tracking, PID, vertex fitting, kinematic fitting, and the extraction of yields. The double-tag method ensures that systematic uncertainties associated with the ST side largely cancel out.

Significance
The authors claim this analysis provides the most precise measurement to date of the branching fraction and transition magnetic moment for the $\Sigma^0 \to \Lambda e^+e^-$ decay. By filling the experimental gap in the low- $q^2$ time-like region, the results offer valuable insight into the intrinsic structure of the $\Sigma^0$ hyperon and the nature of the $\Sigma^0-\Lambda$ electromagnetic transition. The observed deviation in the branching fraction from the standard QED prediction warrants further theoretical investigation, while the precise determination of the transition magnetic moment constrains models of hyperon structure.

More like this