Search for the low-lying excited baryon $Σ^*(1/2^-)$ through process $Λ^+_c \to ΛK^0 π^+$

Abstract

Motivated by recent BESIII measurements of the singly Cabibbo-suppressed processes $Λ^+_c \to ΛK^+ π^0$ and $Λ^+_c \to ΛK_S^0 π^+$, we investigate the process $Λ^+_c \to ΛK^0 π^+$ by taking into account the contribution from the low-lying excited baryon $Σ^*(1/2^-)$, dynamically generated via the $S$-wave pseudoscalar meson-octet baryon interaction, as well as from the intermediate resonances $K^*(892)$ and $N(1535)$. Our model successfully reproduces the BESIII $π^+K^0$ invariant mass distribution, and predicts a distinct cusp structure around 1.43~GeV in the $π^+Λ$ invariant mass distribution, which is associated with the predicted $Σ^*(1/2^-)$. Future high-precise measurements of this process at BESIII, Belle~II, and the proposed Super Tau-Charm Facility experiments will be crucial for testing the existence of $Σ^*(1/2^-)$ and advancing our understanding of the light baryon spectrum.