Search for a narrow baryonic state decaying to $pK^S_0$ and $\bar{p}K^S_0$ in deep inelastic scattering with the HERA II data

Abstract

This paper presents the result of a search for a narrow strange baryonic state in the invariant-mass distribution of $pK^0_S(\overline{p}K^0_S)$ in HERA II data (2003-2007). The search was performed in the deep inelastic scattering (DIS) data with photon virtuality, $Q^2$, between 20 and 100 GeV. The analysis in HERA II period has improvements over the previous ZEUS analysis in HERA I period (1996-2000). These consist of large statistics and improved particle identification performance by using both of the CTD $dE/dx$ and the MVD $dE/dx$ in this search. Contrary to evidence for such an exotic state around 1.52 GeV in the HERA I data, no such state is found in this analysis. The upper limits on the production cross section are set at 95% confidence level.