Study of the $\gamma d\to K^{+}K^{-}np$ reaction and an alternative explanation for the "$\Theta^{+}(1540)$ pentaquark" peak

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that the observed peak in the $K^+ n$ invariant mass around 1526 MeV, previously attributed to the $ heta^+$ pentaquark, can be explained by reaction dynamics and experimental cuts without invoking a new resonance.

Contribution

The study provides an alternative explanation for the $ heta^+$ peak, showing it can arise from reaction dynamics and data analysis effects rather than a genuine resonance.

Findings

A peak around 1530 MeV can be produced without a $ heta^+$ resonance.

Statistical fluctuations are significant with current experimental data.

The observed peak may result from reaction dynamics and experimental cuts.

Abstract

We present a calculation of the $\gamma d \to K^+ K^- n p $ reaction with the aim of seeing if the experimental peak observed in the $K^+ n$ invariant mass around 1526 MeV, from where evidence for the existence of the $\Theta^+$ has been claimed, can be obtained without this resonance as a consequence of the particular dynamics of the process and the cuts applied in the experimental set up. We find that a combination of facts leads indeed to a peak around 1530 MeV for the invariant mass of $K^+ n$ without the need to invoke any new resonance around this energy. This, together with statistical fluctuations that we prove to be large with the statistics of the experiment, is likely to produce the narrower peak observed there.