Search for strange-pentaquark production in e+e- annihilation at s=10.58GeV

Abstract

We search for strange-pentaquark states that have been previously reported by other experiments-the Θ(1540)+, Ξ5(1860) - , and Ξ5(1860)0-in 123fb-1 of data recorded with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II e+e- storage ring. We find no evidence for these states and set 95% confidence level upper limits on the number of Θ(1540)+ and Ξ5(1860) - pentaquarks produced per e+e- annihilation into qq̄ and per Υ(4S) decay. For qq̄ events the Θ(1540)+ [Ξ5(1860) - ] limit is about 8 [4] times lower than the rates measured for ordinary baryons of similar mass. © 2005 The American Physical Society.