Assignments of $\Lambda_Q$ and $\Xi_Q$ baryons in the heavy quark-light diquark picture

TL;DR

This paper uses a relativistic flux tube model and a heavy quark-light diquark picture to successfully assign observed masses of $ ext{Lambda}_Q$ and $ ext{Xi}_Q$ baryons, providing insights into their quantum states and decay properties.

Contribution

It introduces a new mass formula within the relativistic flux tube model and applies it to baryon spectra, offering novel assignments and predictions for heavy baryon states.

Findings

All known $ ext{Lambda}_Q$ and $ ext{Xi}_Q$ masses are well explained.

Specific baryon states are assigned to radial and orbital excitations with quantum numbers.

Predictions include potential new states to test diquark versus three-body models.

Abstract

We apply a new mass formula which is derived analytically in the relativistic flux tube model to the mass spectra of $\Lambda_Q$ and $\Xi_Q$ (\emph{Q} = \emph{c} or \emph{b} quark) baryons. To this end, the heavy quark-light diquark picture is employed. We find that all masses of the available $\Lambda_Q$ and $\Xi_Q$ states can be understood well. The assignments to these states do not appear to contradict the strong decay properties. $\Lambda_c(2760)^+$ and $\Xi_c(2980)$ are assigned to the first radial excitations with $J^P = 1/2^+$. $\Lambda_c(2940)^+$ and $\Xi_c(3123)$ might be the 2\emph{P} states. The $\Lambda_c(2880)^+$ and $\Xi_c(3080)$ are the good 1\emph{D} candidates with $J^P = 5/2^+$. $\Xi_c(3055)$ is likely to be a 1\emph{D} state with $J^P = 3/2^+$. $\Lambda_b(5912)^0$ and $\Lambda_b(5920)^0$ favor the 1\emph{P} assignments with $J^P = 1/2^-$ and $3/2^-$, respectively. We propose a search for the $\tilde{\Lambda}_{c2}(5/2^-)$ state which can help to distinguish the diquark and three-body schemes.