Explain the energy-dependent hypertriton yield discrepancy

Explain the factor-of-three discrepancy between the hypertriton yields measured in Pb–Pb collisions at .76 TeV and 5.02 TeV.

Background

The paper compares statistical-hadronization-model calculations with hypertriton measurements from Pb–Pb and p–Pb collisions. It reports that the Pb–Pb measurements at 5.02 TeV are substantially lower than those at 2.76 TeV, despite the general comparison with the model. The authors explicitly identify the discrepancy as unresolved, while noting that the uncertainty in the measured hypertriton separation energy has not yet been incorporated into the yield determination.

References

In contrast, the Pb--Pb data at $=5.02~\mathrm{TeV}$ are a factor 3$\pm$1 lower than the $=2.76~\mathrm{TeV}$ measurement. The difference has not been explained.

— Hadronization into Nuclei: Does Size Matter?  (2610.01289 - Andronic et al., 1 Oct 2026) in Section Results, paragraph discussing the hypertriton multiplicity dependence

It is worth noting that interaction effects are not yet considered for the calculations of any nuclear production yields including {3, which could be quantified by calculations in the S-matrix approach. For the proton and even more so for the $\Lambda$ hyperon, S-matrix calculations have been shown to modify thermal yields substantially. For the {3, the effect of interactions has not been quantified yet and could potentially have a significant impact on its predicted yield.

— Hadronization into Nuclei: Does Size Matter?  (2610.01289 - Andronic et al., 1 Oct 2026) in Section Results, paragraph beginning “It is worth noting that interaction effects”