Abstract: We present results for five reactions, Lambda(b) -> J/psi K(-)p, Lambda(b) -> J/psi eta Lambda, Lambda(b) -> J/psi pi(-)p, Lambda(b) -> J/psi K-0 Lambda and Xi(-)(b) -> J/psi K-Lambda, where combining information from the meson baryon interaction, using the chiral unitary approach, and predictions made for molecular states of hidden charm, with or without strangeness, we can evaluate invariant mass distributions for the light meson baryon states, and for those of J/psi p or J/psi Lambda. We show that with the present available information, in all of these reactions one finds peaks where the pentaquark states show up. In the Lambda(b) -> J/psi K(-)p, and Lambda(b) -> J/psi pi(-)p reactions we show that the results obtained from our study are compatible with present experimental observations.

Abstract: We study the (K-, p) reaction on nuclei with a 1 GeV/c momentum kaon beam, paying special attention to the region of emitted protons having kinetic energy above 600 MeV, which was used to claim a deeply attractive kaon nucleus optical potential. Our model describes the nuclear reaction in the framework of a local density approach and the calculations are performed following two different procedures: one is based on a many-body method using the Lindhard function and the other is based on a Monte Carlo simulation. The simulation method offers flexibility to account for processes other than kaon quasielastic scattering, such as K- absorption by one and two nucleons, producing hyperons, and allows consideration of final-state interactions of the K-, the p, and all other primary and secondary particles on their way out of the nucleus, as well as the weak decay of the produced hyperons into pi N. We find a limited sensitivity of the cross section to the strength of the kaon optical potential. We also show a serious drawback in the experimental setup-the requirement for having, together with the energetic proton, at least one charged particle detected in the decay counter surrounding the target-as we find that the shape of the original cross section is appreciably distorted, to the point of invalidating the claims made in the experimental paper on the strength of the kaon nucleus optical.

Abstract: We study the eta'N interaction within a chiral unitary approach which includes pi N, eta N and related pseudoscalar meson-baryon coupled channels. Since the SU(3) singlet does not contribute to the standard interaction and the eta' is mostly a singlet, the resulting scattering amplitude is very small and inconsistent with the experimental scattering length. The additional consideration of vector meson-baryon states into the coupled channel scheme, via normal and anomalous couplings of pseudoscalar to vector mesons, enhances substantially the eta'N amplitude. We also exploit the freedom of adding to the Lagrangian a new term, allowed by the symmetries of QCD, which couples baryons to the singlet meson of SU(3). Adjusting the unknown strength to the eta'N scattering length, we obtain predictions for the elastic eta'N -> eta'N and inelastic eta'N -> eta N, pi N, K Lambda, K Sigma cross sections at low eta' energies, and discuss their significance.