Pentaquark baryon production in nuclear reactions

Abstract

Using a hadronic model with empirical coupling constants and form factors, we have evaluated the cross sections for the production of exotic pentaquark $Θ^+$ and/or $Ξ_5^+$ and $Ξ_5^{--}$ in reactions induced by photons, nucleons, pions, and kaons on nucleon targets. We have also predicted the $Θ^+$ yield in relativistic heavy ion collisions using a kinetic model that takes into account both $Θ^+$ production from the coalescence of quarks and antiquarks in the quark-gluon plasma and the effects due to subsequent hadronic absorption and regeneration.