Semileptonic decays of $\Lambda_c$ baryons in the relativistic quark model

Abstract

Motivated by recent experimental progress in studying weak decays of the $\Lambda_c$ baryon we investigate its semileptonic decays in the framework of the relativistic quark model based on the quasipotential approach with the QCD-motivated potential. The form factors of the $\Lambda_c\to \Lambda l\nu_l$ and $\Lambda_c\to nl\nu_l$ decays are calculated in the whole accessible kinematical region without extrapolations and additional model assumptions. Relativistic effects are systematically taken into account including transformations of baryon wave functions from the rest to moving reference frame and contributions of the intermediate negative-energy states. Baryon wave functions found in the previous mass spectrum calculations are used for the numerical evaluation. Comprehensive predictions for decay rates, asymmetries and polarization parameters are given. They agree well with available experimental data.