Universal physics of the few-body system of two neutrons and one flavored meson

TL;DR

This paper explores the universal Efimov physics in a three-body system of two neutrons and a flavored meson, revealing conditions under which Efimov states emerge and their implications for systems like $K^{-}nn$ and $D^{0}nn$.

Contribution

It demonstrates the manifestation of Efimov effect in a three-body system involving flavored mesons using effective field theory, extending universal physics understanding to these systems.

Findings

Efimov effect occurs when meson-neutron scattering length approaches unitarity.

Universal physics applies to $K^{-}nn$ and $D^{0}nn$ systems.

Low-energy effective field theory captures three-body phenomena.

Abstract

We investigate the $s$-wave three-body system of two neutrons and one flavored meson with total spin-isospin $J=0,I=3/2$. The meson-neutron scattering length can become infinitely large in an unphysical region of the quark mass when extrapolated from strangeness to charm in the so-called zero coupling limit. Using a low-energy cluster effective field theory, we demonstrate that the Efimov effect is manifest in the three-body system when the meson-neutron scattering length is extrapolated to the unitary limit of the two-body interaction. We thereby discuss the consequence of universal physics in the physical $K^{-}nn$ and $D^{0}nn$ systems.