Pentaquark Searches
Ken Hicks · arXiv (Cornell University) · 2007
Current evidence does not favor the existence of the \thplus pentaquark, which was reported by several groups in the years after 2002. The question naturally arises: how could many groups could have seen fluctuations in their data at the level of 3-5 $σ$ statistical significance? An example of a statistical fluctuation is given and the number of $σ$'s necessary for claims of discovery are examined. Using this guideline, a possible answer to the above question is presented.