Strangeness -2 hypertriton

We have solved for the first time the Faddeev equations for the bound state problem of the coupled $\Lambda\Lambda N$--$\Xi NN$ system to study whether an hypertriton with strangeness -2 may exist or not. We make use of the interactions obtained from a chiral quark model describing the low-energy observables of the two-baryon systems with strangeness 0, -1, and -2 and three-baryon systems with strangeness 0 and -1. The $\Lambda\Lambda N$ system alone is unbound. However, when the full coupling to $\Xi NN$ is considered, the strangeness -2 three-baryon system with quantum numbers $(I,J^P)=(1/2,1/2^+)$ becomes bound, with a binding energy of about 0.5 MeV. This result is compatible with the non-existence of a stable $^3_\Lambda$H with isospin one.Comment: 4 pages, 2 tables, accepted for publication in PR

ndnd scattering lengths from a quark-model based NNNN interaction

We calculate the doublet and quartet neutron-deuteron scattering lengths using a nonlocal nucleon-nucleon interaction fully derived from quark-quark interactions. We use as input the $NN$ $^1S_0$ and $^3S_1$-${}^3 D_1$ partial waves. Our result for the quartet scattering length agrees well with the experimental value while the result for the doublet scattering length does not. However, if we take the result for the doublet scattering length together with the one for the triton binding energy they agree well with the so-called Phillips line.Comment: 6 pages, 2 tables. Accepted for publication in Physical Review

Effect of higher orbital angular momenta in the baryon spectrum

We have performed a Faddeev calculation of the baryon spectrum for the chiral constituent quark model including higher orbital angular momentum states. We have found that the effect of these states is important, although a description of the baryon spectrum of the same quality as the one given by including only the lowest-order configurations can be obtained. We have studied the effect of the pseudoscalar quark-quark interaction on the relative position of the positive- and negative-parity excitations of the nucleon as well as the effect of varying the strength of the color-magnetic interaction.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures. To be published in Phys. Rev. C (November 2001

The ΛΛ 4n{}_{\Lambda\Lambda}^{\,\,\,\,4}n system

Using local central Yukawa-type Malfliet-Tjon interactions reproducing the low-energy parameters and phase shifs of the $nn$ system and the latest updates of the $n\Lambda$ and $\Lambda\Lambda$ Nijmegen ESC08c potentials we study the possible existence of a ${}_{\Lambda\Lambda}^{\,\,\,\,4}n$ bound state. Our results indicate that the ${}_{\Lambda\Lambda}^{\,\,\,\,4}n$ is unbound, being just above threshold. We discuss the role played by the $^1S_0$ $nn$ repulsive term of the Yukawa-type Malfliet-Tjon interaction.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figures. To be published in Chinese Physics

Screened potential and quarkonia properties at high temperatures

We perform a quark model calculation of the quarkonia $b\overline{b}$ and $c\overline{c}$ spectra using smooth and sudden string breaking potentials. The screening parameter is scale dependent and can be related to an effective running gluon mass that has a finite infrared fixed point. A temperature dependence for the screening mass is motivated by lattice QCD simulations at finite temperature. Qualitatively different results are obtained for quarkonia properties close to a critical value of the deconfining temperature when a smooth or a sudden string breaking potential is used. In particular, with a sudden string breaking potential quarkonia radii remain almost independent of the temperature up to the critical point, only well above the critical point the radii increase significantly. Such a behavior will impact the phenomenology of quarkonia interactions in medium, in particular for scattering dissociation processes.Comment: 9 pages, 11 figures. Accepted for publication ijn Eur. Phys. J.

A multiquark description of the DsJ(2860)D_{sJ}(2860) and DsJ(2700)D_{sJ}(2700)

Within a theoretical framework that accounts for all open-charm mesons, including the $D_0^*(2308)$, the $D_{sJ}^*(2317)$ and the $D_{sJ}(2460)$, we analyze the structure and explore possible quantum number assignments for the $D_{sJ}(2860)$ and the $D_{sJ}(2700)$ mesons reported by BABAR and Belle Collaborations. The open-charm sector is properly described if considered as a combination of conventional quark-antiquark states and four--quark components. All negative parity and $2^+$ states can be understood in terms only of $q\bar q$ components, however the description of the $0^+$ and $1^+$ mesons is improved whenever the mixing between two-- and four--quarks configurations is included. We analyze all possible quantum number assignments for the $D_{sJ}(2860)$ in terms of both $c\bar s$ and $cn\bar s\bar n$ configurations. We discuss the role played by the electromagnetic and strong decay widths as basic tools to distinguish among them. The broad structure reported by BABAR near 2.7 GeV is also analyzed.Comment: 10 pages, 5 table