Effects of hadronic molecule $N(2080)3/2^-$ on $K^{*+}\Lambda$ photoproduction

Abstract

In our previous work [Phys. Rev. C {\bf 101}, 014003 (2020)], we have analyzed all available data on differential cross sections and spin density matrix elements for the $\gamma p \to K^{\ast +} \Lambda$ reaction using an effective Lagrangian approach. There, the $t$-channel $K$, $K^*$, and $\kappa$ exchanges, the $u$-channel $\Lambda$, $\Sigma$, and $\Sigma^*$ exchanges, the $s$-channel $N$, $N(2060)5/2^-$, and $N(2000)5/2^+$ exchanges, and the interaction current were taken into account in constructing the reaction amplitudes. It was found that, overall, the agreement of the theoretical results with the corresponding data is fairly good. However, noticeable discrepancies between the model results and the data on spin density matrix elements $\rho_{00}$ are still observed in the center-of-mass energy region around $W \approx 2.08$ GeV, indicating the need for additional reaction mechanisms. On the other hand, the hidden-strange pentaquark-like state $N(2080)3/2^-$, which is proposed to be a $K^*\Sigma$ molecular state as the strange partner of $P_c(4457)$ hadronic molecule, has been found to play quite active roles in reproducing the data for $K^{*+}\Sigma^0$, $K^{*0}\Sigma^+$, and $\phi p$ photoproduction reactions. Based on these observations, in the present work, we reanalyze the data for the $\gamma p \to K^{\ast +} \Lambda$ reaction by incorporating the pentaquark-like state $N(2080)3/2^-$ in our previously proposed model. The results show that with the inclusion of the contributions of $N(2080)3/2^-$, the quality of the theoretical description of the $\gamma p \to K^{*+}\Lambda$ data can be considerably improved.