Search for Pentaquarks at BABAR

TL;DR

This study searches for strange pentaquark states in BABAR data but finds no evidence, setting limits on their production rates and challenging previous claims of their existence.

Contribution

First comprehensive search for multiple pentaquark states in BABAR data, providing stringent limits and refuting earlier positive signals.

Findings

No evidence for Theta(1540)+, Xi(1860)--, Xi(1860)0 in BABAR data

Set upper limits on pentaquark production rates

Contradicts previous claims of pentaquark detection

Abstract

The results of searches for the strange pentaquark states, Theta(1540)+, Xi(1860)-- and Xi(1860)0 in data recorded by the BABAR experiment are presented. We search for these three states inclusively in 123.4 fb^-1 of e+ e- annihilation data produced at the PEP-II asymmetric storage rings; we find no evidence for their production in any physics process, and set limits on their production rates that are well below the measured rates for conventional baryons. We also search for Theta(1540)+ produced in interactions of electrons or hadrons in the material of the inner part of the detector. No evidence for this state is found in a sample with much higher statistics than similar electroproduction experiments that claim a signal.