Abstract: A theoretical investigation is done to clarify the origin of the peak structure observed near the K-pp threshold in the in-flight He-3(K-, Lambda p)n reaction of the J-PARC E15 experiment, which could be a signal of the lightest kaonic nuclei, i.e., the (K) over bar NN (I = 1/2) state. For the investigation, we evaluate the Lambda p invariant mass spectrum assuming two possible scenarios to interpret the experimental peak. One assumes that the Lambda (1405) resonance is generated after the emission of an energetic neutron from the absorption of the initial K-, not forming a bound state with the remaining proton. This uncorrelated Lambda (1405)p system subsequently decays into the final Lambda p. The other scenario implies that, after the emission of the energetic neutron, a (K) over bar NN bound state is formed, decaying eventually into a Lambda p pair. Our results show that the experimental signal observed in the in-flight He-3(K-, Lambda p)n reaction at J-PARC is qualitatively well reproduced by the assumption that a (K) over bar NN bound state is generated in the reaction, definitely discarding the interpretation in terms of an uncorrelated Lambda (1405)p s tate.

Abstract: We study the weak decay of the Lambda(b) into J/psi K Xi. and J/psi eta Lambda states, and relate these processes to the Lambda(b) -> J/psi(K) over barN decay mode. The elementary weak transition at the quark level proceeds via the creation of a J/psi meson and an excited sud system with I = 0, which upon hadronization leads to (K) over barN or eta Lambda pairs. These states undergo final-state interaction in coupled channels and produce a final meson-baryon pair. The K. state only occurs via rescattering, hence making the Lambda(b) -> J/psi K Xi process very sensitive to the details of the meson-baryon interaction in strangeness S = -1 and isospin I = 0. We show that the corresponding invariant mass distribution is dominated by the next-to-leading-order terms of the chiral interaction. The I = 0 selectivity of this decay, and its large sensitivity to the higher-order terms, makes its measurement very useful and complementary to the K- p -> K Xi cross section data. The rates of the Lambda(b) -> J/psi K Xi and Lambda(b) -> J/psi eta Lambda invariant mass distributions are sizable compared to those of the Lambda(b) -> J/psi(K) over barN decay, which is measured experimentally, and thus, we provide arguments for an experimental determination of these decay modes that will help us understand better the chiral dynamics at higher energies.

Abstract: We have studied the gamma p -> K-0 Sigma(+) reaction in the energy region around the K*Lambda and K*Sigma thresholds, where the CBELSA/TAPS cross section shows a sudden drop and the differential cross section experiences a transition from a forward-peaked distribution to a flat one. Our coupled-channel model incorporates the dynamics of the vector meson-baryon interaction which is obtained from the hidden gauge formalism. We find that the cross section in this energy region results from a delicate interference between amplitudes having K*Lambda and K*Sigma intermediate states. The sharp downfall is dictated by the presence of a nearby N* resonance produced by our model, a feature that we have employed to predict its properties. We also show results for the complementary gamma n -> K-0 Sigma(0) reaction, the measurement of which would test the mechanism proposed in this work.