Critical review of [K- ppn] bound states

TL;DR

This paper critically examines the interpretation of experimental signals as deeply bound kaonic states, demonstrating that observed peaks can be explained by conventional three-nucleon absorption processes.

Contribution

The study provides a comprehensive analysis showing that the experimental peak attributed to a bound state can be explained without invoking exotic states, clarifying the nature of kaon absorption in nuclei.

Findings

The observed peak is consistent with three-nucleon absorption processes.

All measured observables can be reproduced without assuming a deeply bound kaonic state.

Understanding kaon absorption is crucial for future searches of bound states.

Abstract

We make a thorough study of the process of three body kaon absorption in nuclei, in connection with a recent FINUDA experiment which claims the existence of a deeply bound kaonic state from the observation of a peak in the Lambda d invariant mass distribution following K- absorption on Li6. We show that the peak is naturally explained in terms of K- absorption from three nucleons leaving the rest as spectators. We can also reproduce all the other observables measured in the same experiment and used to support the hypothesis of the deeply bound kaon state. Our study also reveals interesting aspects of kaon absorption in nuclei, a process that must be understood in order to make progress in the search for K- deeply bound states in nuclei.