Non-mesonic weak decays of [sub Λ][sup 5]He and [sub Λ][sup 12]C hypernuclei using the (π[sup +],K[sup +]) reactions

We have measured for the first time yields of both neutron‐proton and neutron‐neutron pairs emitted from the non‐mesonic weak decay of the Λ5He and Λ12C hypernuclei, produced via the (π+,K+) reaction. From the yields of both the back‐to‐back np‐pair events and nn‐pair events, we have directly determined the ratio of the neutron‐ and proton‐induced decay widths, Γn(Λn→nn)/Γp(Λp→np). Meanwhile, we have also determined the quenching of the observed numbers of single nucleons and coincident nucleon pairs compared with theoretical calculations. Our results suggest that contributions from the two‐nucleon‐induced three‐body process ΛNN→NNN are significant.