Chiral SU(3) theory of antikaon-nucleon interactions with improved threshold constraints

Abstract

$\bar{K}$-nucleon interactions are investigated in the framework of coupled-channels dynamics based on the next-to-leading order chiral SU(3) meson-baryon effective Lagrangian. A recent determination of the 1s shift and width of kaonic hydrogen enables us to set accurate constraints on the coupled-channels meson-baryon amplitudes in the strangeness $S=-1$ sector. Theoretical uncertainties in the subthreshold extrapolation of the coupled-channels amplitudes are discussed. Using this framework, we give predictions for $K^-$-neutron interactions and for the spectrum of the $\Lambda(1405)$ resonance. A simplified, effective three-channel model using leading order chiral SU(3) meson-baryon interactions is also constructed for convenient application in $\bar{K}$-nuclear few-body calculations.