The Fundamental Kaonic Nuclear ClusterK-pp

Abstract

We have studied the structure of K − pp comprehensively by solving this three-body system exactly in a variational method, starting from the Ansatz that the Λ(1405) resonance (≡ Λ ∗ )i s aK − p bound state. We have found that our original prediction for the presence of K − pp as a compact bound system with M = 2322 MeV/c 2 , BK =4 8 MeV andΓ =6 1 MeV remains unchanged by varying the ¯ KN and NN interactions widely as far as they reproduce Λ(1405). The structure of K − pp reveals a molecular feature, namely, the K − in Λ ∗ as an “atomic center” plays a key role in producing strong covalent bonding with the other proton. We have shown that the elementary process, p+p → K + +Λ ∗ +p, which occurs in a short impact parameter and with a large momentum transfer, leads to unusually large self-trapping of Λ ∗ by the participating proton, since the Λ ∗ -p system exists as a compact doorway state propagating to K − pp.