Visible narrow cusp structure in $\Lambda_c^+\to p K^- \pi^+$ enhanced by triangle singularity

Abstract

A resonance-like structure as narrow as 10 MeV is observed in the $K^-p$ invariant mass distributions in $\Lambda_c^+\to p K^- \pi^+$ at Belle. Based on the large data sample of about 1.5 million events and the small bin width of just 1 MeV for the $K^-p$ invariant mass spectrum, the narrow peak is found precisely lying at the $\Lambda\eta$ threshold. While lacking evidence for a quark model state with such a narrow width at this mass region, we find that this narrow structure can be naturally identified as a threshold cusp but enhanced by the nearby triangle singularity via the $\Lambda$-$a_0(980)^+$ or $\eta$-$\Sigma(1660)^+$ rescatterings.