Enhanced Production Of Lambda Lambda Pairs Near Threshold In (K-, K+) Reaction

Enhanced production of Lambda Lambda pairs are observed very near the threshold (around the mass of 2.24 GeV/c(2)) beyond prediction of a two-step process model in (K-, K+) reaction at p(K-) = 1.66 GeV/c using the scintillating fiber target. The differential cross section for the Lambda Lambda production averaged over 2.3 degrees less than or equal to theta(K+) less than or equal to 14.7 degrees in the momentum region 0.95 less than or equal to p(K+) less than or equal to 1.3 GeV/c was found to be 8.2 +/- 1.3 mu b/sr, and that for the enhancement approximately 3 mu b/sr.