Abstract: A model is developed to describe odd-parity baryon resonances generated dynamically through a unitary baryon-meson coupled-channels approach. The scheme applies to channels with light- and/or heavy-quark content. Distinct features of the model are that i) the interaction is an S-wave contact one, ii) it reduces to the SU(3) Weinberg-Tomozawa Hamiltonian when light pseudoscalar mesons are involved, thus respecting chiral symmetry, iii) spin-flavor is preserved in the light-quark sector, and iv) heavy-quark spin symmetry is fulfilled in the heavy-quark sector. In particular, baryon-meson states with different content in c or in (c) over bar do not mix. The model is a minimal one and it contains no free parameters. In this work, we focus on baryon resonances with hidden charm (at least one (c) over bar and one c quark). We analyze several possible sectors and, for the sector with zero net charm, we write down the most general Lagrangian consistent with SU(3) and heavy-quark spin symmetry. We explicitly study the N and Delta states, which are produced from the S-wave interaction of pseudoscalar and vector mesons with 1/2(+) and 3/2(+) baryons within the charmless and strangeless hidden-charm sector. We predict seven odd-parity N-like and five Delta-like states with masses around 4 GeV, most of them as bound states. These states form heavy-quark spin multiplets, which are almost degenerate in mass. The predicted new resonances definitely cannot be accommodated by quark models with three constituent quarks and they might be looked for in the forthcoming PANDA experiment at the future FAIR facility.

Abstract: The properties of strange (K, (K) over bar and (K) over bar*) and open-charm (D, (D) over bar and D*) mesons in dense matter are studied using a unitary approach in coupled channels for meson-baryon scattering. In the strangeness sector, the interaction with nucleons always comes through vector-meson exchange, which is evaluated by chiral and hidden gauge Lagrangians. For the interaction of charmed mesons with nucleons we extend the SU(3) Weinberg-Tomozawa Lagrangian to incorporate spin-flavor symmetry and implement a suitable flavor symmetry breaking. The in-medium solution for the scattering amplitude accounts for Pauli blocking effects and meson self-energies. On one hand, we obtain the K, (K) over bar and (K) over bar* spectral functions in the nuclear medium and study their behaviour at finite density, temperature and momentum. We also make an estimate of the transparency ratio of the gamma A -> K+ K*(-) A' reaction, which we propose as a tool to detect in-medium modifications of the (K) over bar* meson. On the other hand, in the charm sector, several resonances with negative parity are generated dynamically by the s-wave interaction between pseudoscalar and vector meson multiplets with 1/2(+) and 3/2(+) baryons. The properties of these states in matter are analyzed and their influence on the open-charm meson spectral functions is studied. We finally discuss the possible formation of D-mesic nuclei at FAIR energies.

Abstract: After some short introductory remarks on particular issues on the vector mesons in nuclei, in this paper, we present a short review of recent developments concerning the interaction of vector mesons with baryons and with nuclei from a modern perspective using the local hidden gauge formalism for the interaction of vector mesons. We present results for the vector-baryon interaction and in particular for the resonances which appear as composite states, dynamically generated from the interaction of vector mesons with baryons, taking also the mixing of these states with pseudoscalars and baryons into account. We then venture into the charm sector, reporting on hidden charm baryon states around 4400 MeV, generated from the interaction of vector mesons and baryons with charm, which have a strong repercussion on the properties of the J/Psi N interaction. We also address the interaction of K* with nuclei and make suggestions to measure the predicted huge width in the medium by means of transparency ratio. The formalism is extended to study the phenomenon of J/psi suppression in nuclei via J/psi photo-production reactions.

Abstract: The anti-D meson self-energy is evaluated self-consistently, using unitarized coupled-channel theory, by computing the in-medium meson-baryon T matrix in the C = -1, S = 0 sector. The heavy pseudo-scalar and heavy vector mesons, (D) over bar and (D) over bar*, are treated on equal footing as required by heavy-quark spin symmetry. Results for energy levels and widths of (D) over bar (-) mesic atoms in C-12, Ca-40, Sn-118, and Pb-208 are presented. The spectrum contains states of atomic and of nuclear types for all nuclei. (D) over bar (0)-nucleus bound states are also obtained. We find that, after electromagnetic and nuclear cascade, these systems end up with the (D) over bar bound in the nucleus, either as a meson or as part of an exotic (D) over barN (pentaquark) loosely bound state.

Abstract: The energies and widths of several D-0 meson bound states for different nuclei are obtained using a D-meson selfenergy in the nuclear medium, which is evaluated in a selfconsistent manner using techniques of unitarized coupled-channel theory. The kernel of the meson-baryon interaction is based on a model that treats heavy pseudoscalar and heavy vector mesons on equal footing, as required by heavy quark symmetry. We find D-0 bound states in all studied nuclei, from C-12 up to Pb-208. The inclusion of vector mesons is the keystone for obtaining an attractive D-nucleus interaction that leads to the existence of D-0-nucleus bound states, as compared to previous studies based on SU(4) flavor symmetry. In some cases, the half widths are smaller than the separation of the levels, what makes possible their experimental observation by means of a nuclear reaction. This can be of particular interest for the future PANDA@FAIR physics program. We also find a D+ bound state in C-12, but it is too broad and will have a significant overlap with the energies of the continuum.