Predictions for the strangeness [formula omitted] and −4 baryon–baryon interactions in chiral effective field theory

Abstract

The leading order strangeness S=−3 and −4 baryon–baryon interactions are analyzed within chiral effective field theory. The chiral potentials consist of contact terms without derivatives and of one-pseudoscalar-meson exchanges. Assuming SU(3) flavor symmetry those contact terms and the couplings of the pseudoscalar mesons to the baryons are related to the corresponding quantities of the S=−1 hyperon–nucleon channels. Specifically, the values of the pertinent five low-energy constants related to the contact terms are already fixed from our preceding study of the ΛN and ΣN systems and thus genuine predictions for the ΞΛ, ΞΣ, and ΞΞ interactions can be made. Strong attraction is found in some of the S=−3 and −4 channels, suggesting the possible existence of bound states.