Study of $\Lambda_b\to \Lambda (\phi,\eta^{(\prime)})$ and $\Lambda_b\to \Lambda K^+K^-$ decays

TL;DR

This paper investigates specific decay modes of the Lambda_b baryon, comparing theoretical predictions with experimental data, and discusses potential additional contributions to explain observed discrepancies.

Contribution

It provides updated calculations of branching ratios for Lambda_b decays and explores possible other contributions like resonant states to match experimental results.

Findings

Agreement with LHCb for Lambda_b to Lambda phi decay

Discrepancy in Lambda_b to Lambda K+K- decay suggests other contributions

Branching ratios for Lambda_b to Lambda eta and eta' are consistent with current data

Abstract

We study the charmless two-body $\Lambda_b\to \Lambda (\phi,\eta^{(\prime)})$ and three-body $\Lambda_b\to \Lambda K^+K^- $ decays. We obtain ${\cal B}(\Lambda_b\to \Lambda\phi)=(3.53\pm 0.24)\times 10^{-6}$ to agree with the recent LHCb measurement. However, we find that ${\cal B}(\Lambda_b\to \Lambda(\phi\to)K^+ K^-)=(1.71\pm 0.12)\times 10^{-6}$ is unable to explain the LHCb observation of ${\cal B}(\Lambda_b\to\Lambda K^+ K^-)=(15.9\pm 1.2\pm 1.2\pm 2.0)\times 10^{-6}$, which implies the possibility for other contributions, such as that from the resonant $\Lambda_b\to K^- N^*,\,N^*\to\Lambda K^+$ decay with $N^*$ as a higher-wave baryon state. For $\Lambda_b\to \Lambda \eta^{(\prime)}$, we show that ${\cal B}(\Lambda_b\to \Lambda\eta,\,\Lambda\eta^\prime)= (1.47\pm 0.35,1.83\pm 0.58)\times 10^{-6}$, which are consistent with the current data of $(9.3^{+7.3}_{-5.3},<3.1)\times 10^{-6}$, respectively. Our results also support the relation of ${\cal B}(\Lambda_b\to \Lambda\eta) \simeq {\cal B}(\Lambda_b\to\Lambda\eta^\prime)$, given by the previous study.