Charge Properties of the K Meson and Hyperon Decay Interaction

The question of the AT involved in strange-particle decays is discussed in terms of universal Fermi interactions. The fundamental interactions considered contain b, T&—, as suggested by both experimental and purely theoretical considerations. It is found that by assuming global symmetry in both the pion coupling and the weak coupling one may restrict the AT to —, in a class of processes involved in hyperon decay. These are the processes in which the real pion is given off externally. A symmetry may also be incorporated which forbids the decay ~ N+m. A breakdown of this symmetry is necessary to allow Z decay. Reasons are developed for this breakdown to be manifested primarily in the P-wave part of Z and h. decay. A consequence is that Z decay should allow no parity nonconservation. The assumption of global symmetry enables one to connect Z decay to A decay. Fitting the decay rates in the suggested model yields a prediction of the A decay rate and asymmetry in agreement with experiment. Various ways of obtaining a selection rule prohibiting the 0+ mode of E decay are discussed. These depend on symmetries which may be incorporated into an interaction containing d T=-'„-',, and —', .