Deeply-bound $K^- pp$ state in the $^3$He(in-flight $K^-$, $n$) spectrum and its moving pole near the $\pi \Sigma N$ threshold

TL;DR

This paper theoretically investigates the formation and spectral signatures of a deeply-bound $K^- pp$ state in $^3$He reactions, highlighting a cusp-like peak at the $ ext{ extpi} ext{ extSigma}N$ threshold as a key signal.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed theoretical model predicting spectral features of the $K^-pp$ state, including a moving pole trajectory, to aid experimental identification.

Findings

Cusp-like peak at $ ext{ extpi} ext{ extSigma}N$ threshold signals the $K^-pp$ state.

Distinct peak of the $K^-pp$ bound state in the spectrum.

Spectrum shape explained by pole movement in complex energy plane.

Abstract

The formation of a deeply-bound $K^- pp$ state with $I=1/2$, $J^\pi=0^-$ by the $^3$He(in-flight $K^-$, $n$) reaction is theoretically investigated in a distorted-wave impulse approximation using the Green's function method. The expected inclusive and semi-exclusive spectra at $p_{K^-} = 1.0$ GeV/c and $\theta_{\rm lab} = 0^{\circ}$ are calculated for the forthcoming J-PARC E15 experiment. We demonstrate these spectra with several types of phenomenological $K^-$-``$pp$'' optical potentials $U^{\rm opt}(E)$ which have an energy-dependent imaginary part multiplied by a phase space suppression factor, fitting to recent theoretical predictions or experimental candidates of the $K^-pp$ bound state. The results show that a cusp-like peak at the $\pi \Sigma N$ threshold is an unique signal for the $K^-pp$ bound state in the spectrum including the [$K^-pp$] $\to$ $Y + N$ decay process from the two-nucleon $K^-$ absorption, as well as a distinct peak of the $K^-pp$ bound state. The shape of the spectrum is explained by a trajectory of a moving pole of the $K^-pp$ bound state in the complex energy plane. The importance of the spectrum with [$K^-pp$] $\to$ $Y + N$ from the two-nucleon $K^-$ absorption is emphasized in order to extract clear evidence of the $K^-pp$ bound state.