Partial Wave Analysis of the Reaction $p(3.5 GeV)+p \to pK^+Λ$ to Search for the "$ppK^-$" Bound State

Abstract

Employing the Bonn-Gatchina partial wave analysis framework (PWA), we have analyzed HADES data of the reaction $p(3.5GeV)+p\to pK^{+}Λ$. This reaction might contain information about the kaonic cluster "$ppK^-$" via its decay into $pΛ$. Due to interference effects in our coherent description of the data, a hypothetical $\overline{K}NN$ (or, specifically "$ppK^-$") cluster signal must not necessarily show up as a pronounced feature (e.g. a peak) in an invariant mass spectra like $pΛ$. Our PWA analysis includes a variety of resonant and non-resonant intermediate states and delivers a good description of our data (various angular distributions and two-hadron invariant mass spectra) without a contribution of a $\overline{K}NN$ cluster. At a confidence level of CL$_{s}$=95\% such a cluster can not contribute more than 2-12\% to the total cross section with a $pK^{+}Λ$ final state, which translates into a production cross-section between 0.7 $μb$ and 4.2 $μb$, respectively. The range of the upper limit depends on the assumed cluster mass, width and production process.

7 Pages, 5 Figures