Evidence for a scalar kappa(900) resonance in pi-K scattering

Abstract

Motivated by the $1/N_c$ expansion, we study a simple model in which the pi-K scattering amplitude is the sum of a current-algebra contact term and resonance pole exchanges. This phenomenological model is crossing symmetric and, when a putative light strange scalar meson, kappa, is included, satisfies the unitarity bounds to well above 1 GeV. The model also features chiral dynamics, vector meson dominance and appropriate interference between the established scalar K*(1430) resonance and its predicted background. We briefly discuss the physical significance of the results and directions for further work.

28 pages, 17 figures