Abstract: We report on a theoretical study of the pp -> p Lambda K(+) and pp -> p Sigma(0)K(+) reactions near threshold using a chiral dynamical approach. The production process is described by single-pion and single-kaon exchange. The final state interactions of nucleon-hyperon, K-hyperon, and K-nucleon systems are also taken into account. We show that our model leads to a fair description of the experimental data on the total cross section of the pp -> p Lambda K(+) and pp -> p Sigma(0)K(+) reactions. We find that the experimental observed strong suppression of Sigma(0) production compared to Lambda production at the same excess energy can be explained. However, ignorance of phases between some amplitudes does not allow one to properly account for the nucleon-hyperon final state interaction for the pp -> p Sigma(0)K(+) reaction. We also demonstrate that the invariant mass distribution and the Dalitz plot provide direct information about the Lambda and Sigma(0) production mechanisms and may be tested by experiments at COSY or HIRFL-CSR.

Abstract: The rho rho N and rho rho Delta three-body systems have been studied within the framework of the fixed center approximation of Faddeev equation. The rho rho interaction in isospin I = 0, spin S = 2 is strongly attractive, and so are the N rho, Delta rho interactions. This leads to bound states of both rho rho N and rho rho Delta. We find peaks of the modulus squared of the scattering matrix around 2227 MeV for rho rho N, and 2372 MeV for rho rho Delta. Yet, the strength of the peak for the rho rho N amplitude is much smaller than for rho rho Delta, weakening the case for a rho rho N bound state, or a dominant rho rho N component. A discussion is made on how these states can be searched for in present programs looking for multimeson final states in different reactions.

Abstract: An SU(4) extrapolation of the chiral unitary theory in coupled channels done to study the scalar mesons in the charm sector is extended to produce results in finite volume. The theory in the infinite volume produces dynamically the D-s*0(2317) resonance by means of the coupled channels KD, eta D-s. Energy levels in the finite box are evaluated and, assuming that they would correspond to lattice results, the inverse problem of determining the bound states and phase shifts in the infinite volume from the lattice data is addressed. We observe that it is possible to obtain accurate KD phase shifts and the position of the D-s*0(2317) state, but it requires the explicit consideration of the two coupled channels in the analysis if one goes close to the eta D-s threshold. We also show that the finite volume spectra look rather different in case the D-s*0(2317) is a composite state of the two mesons, or if it corresponds to a non molecular state with a small overlap with the two meson system. We then show that a careful analysis of the finite volume data can shed some light on the nature of the D-s*0(2317) resonance as a KD molecule or otherwise.

Abstract: We study the photoproduction of phi mesons in deuteron, paying attention to the modification of the cross-section from bound protons to the free ones. For this purpose we take into account Fermi motion in single scattering and rescattering of phi to account for phi absorption on a second nucleon as well as the rescattering of the proton on the neutron. We find that the contribution of the double scattering for phi is much smaller than the typical cross-section of gamma p -> phi p in free space, which implies a very small screening of the phi production in deuteron. The contribution from the proton rescattering, on the other hand, is found to be not negligible compared to the cross-section of gamma p -> phi p in free space, and leads to a moderate reduction of the phi photoproduction cross-section on a deuteron at forward angles if the LEPS set-up is taken into account. The Fermi motion allows contribution of the single scattering in regions forbidden by phase-space in the free case. In particular, we find that for momentum transfer squared close to the maximum value, the Fermi motion changes drastically the shape of d sigma/dt, to the point that the ratio of this cross-section to the free one becomes very sensitive to the precise value of t chosen, or the size of the bin used in an experimental analysis. Hence, this particular region of t does not seem to be the most indicated to find effects of a possible phi absorption in the deuteron. This reaction is studied theoretically as a function of t and the results are contrasted with recent experiments at LEPS and Jefferson Lab. The effect of the experimental angular cuts at LEPS is also discussed, providing guidelines for future experimental analyses of the reaction.

Abstract: Starting from a recent model of the eta'N interaction, we evaluate the eta'-nucleus optical potential, including the contribution of lowest order in density, t rho/2m(eta'), together with the second-order terms accounting for eta' absorption by two nucleons. We also calculate the formation cross section of the eta' bound states from (pi(+), p) reactions on nuclei. The eta'-nucleus potential suffers from uncertainties tied to the poorly known eta'N interaction, which can be partially constrained by the experimental modulus of the eta'N scattering length and/or the recently measured transparency ratios in eta' nuclear photoproduction. Assuming an attractive interaction and taking the claimed experimental value vertical bar a(eta'N)vertical bar = 0.1 fm, we obtain an eta' optical potential in nuclear matter at saturation density of V eta' = -(8.7 + 1.8i) MeV, not attractive enough to produce eta' bound states in light nuclei. Larger values of the scattering length give rise to deeper optical potentials, with moderate enough imaginary parts. For a value vertical bar a(eta'N)vertical bar = 0.3 fm, which can still be considered to lie within the uncertainties of the experimental constraints, the spectra of light and medium nuclei show clear structures associated to eta'-nuclear bound states and to threshold enhancements in the unbound region.