Bottom Baryon Decays to Pseudoscalar Meson and Pentaquark

Abstract

Based on SU(3) flavor symmetry, we decompose the decay amplitudes of bottom baryon decays to a pseudoscalar meson and an octet (a decuplet) pentaquark in terms of three (two) invariant amplitudes $T_1$ and $T_{2,3}$ ($\tilde T_1$ and $\tilde T_2$) corresponding to external $W$-emission and internal $W$-emission diagrams, respectively. For antitriplet bottom baryons $\Lambda_b^0,\Xi_b^0$ and $\Xi_b^-$, their decays to a decuplet pentaquark proceed only through the internal $W$-emission diagram. Assuming the dominance from the external $W$-emission amplitudes, we present an estimate of the decay rates relative to $\Lambda_b^0\to P_p^+K^-$, where $P_p^+$ is the hidden-charm pentaquark with the same light quark content as the proton. Hence, our numerical results will provide a very useful guideline to the experimental search for pentaquarks in bottom baryon decays. For example, $\Xi_b^0\to P_{\Sigma^+}K^-$, $\Xi_b^-\to P_{\Sigma^-}\bar K^0$, $\Omega_b^-\to P_{\Xi^-}\bar K^0$ and $\Omega_b^-\to P_{\Xi^0}K^-$ may have rates comparable to that of $\Lambda_b^0\to P_p^+K^-$ and these modes should be given the higher priority in the experimental searches for pentaquarks.