Measuring K0SK± interactions using pp collisions at √s=7 TeV

Abstract

We present the first measurements of femtoscopic correlations between the and particles in pp collisions at TeV measured by the ALICE experiment. The observed femtoscopic correlations are consistent with final-state interactions proceeding solely via the resonance. The extracted kaon source radius and correlation strength parameters for are found to be equal within the experimental uncertainties to those for . Results of the present study are compared with those from identical-kaon femtoscopic studies also performed with pp collisions at TeV by ALICE and with a measurement in Pb–Pb collisions at TeV. Combined with the Pb–Pb results, our pp analysis is found to be compatible with the interpretation of the having a tetraquark structure instead of that of a diquark.