Strange molecular partners of $P_c$ states in $\gamma p\to\phi p$ reaction

TL;DR

This study explores the existence of strange molecular partners of $P_c$ states, specifically $N^*(2080)$ and $N^*(2270)$, in $ o ext{reaction}$ data, supporting their molecular nature through detailed modeling and data fitting.

Contribution

It introduces a molecular interpretation of $N^*(2080)$ and $N^*(2270)$ as $K^*\Sigma$ and $K^*\Sigma^*$ molecules, fitting experimental data with consistent coupling constants.

Findings

Molecular states can explain the $ o$ reaction data well.

Coupling constants align with hadronic triangle diagram calculations.

Supports the molecular nature of $N^*(2080)$ and $N^*(2270)$.

Abstract

Based on the high statistical data of the CLAS Collaboration on $\gamma p \to \phi p$ reaction in the center-of-mass energy range of 2.2 GeV to 2.8 GeV, we investigate the possible existence of strange molecular partners of $P_c$ states, i.e., $N^*(2080)$ and $N^*(2270)$ as $K^*\Sigma$ and $K^*\Sigma^*$ molecular states. In addition to the t-channel Pomeron exchange, t-channel meson exchange including pseudo-scalar meson $(\pi,\eta)$, scalar meson $(\sigma, a_0(980), f_0(980))$, axial-vector meson $f_1(1285)$, tensor meson $f_2(1270)$, as well as s- and u-channel proton exchange, including s-channel $N^*(2080)$ and $N^*(2270)$ states can fit the data very well. The fitted coupling constants of these $N^*$ molecular states to $p\phi$ and $\gamma p$ are consistent with the results directly calculated from the relevant hadronic triangle diagrams of the molecular picture.