Revisiting the nature of the $P_c$ pentaquarks

Abstract

The nature of the three narrow $P_c$ states, i.e., $P_c(4312)$, $P_c(4440)$ and $P_c(4457)$, is under intense discussion since their discovery from the updated analysis by LHCb. In this work we extend our previous coupled-channel approach [Phys. Rev. Lett. \bf{124}, 072001 (2020)] by including the $\Lambda_c\bar{D}^{(*)}$ and $\eta_cp$ as explicitly in addition to the $J/\psi p$, as required by unitarity and heavy quark spin symmetry (HQSS). Since inelastic parameters are very badly constrained by the current data, three schemes are considered: (a) scheme I with pure contact interactions and without the $\Lambda_c\bar D^{(*)}$ interactions, (b) scheme II, where the one-pion exchange is added to scheme I, and (c) scheme III, where the $\Lambda_c \bar D^{(*)}$ are included in addition. It is shown that to obtain cutoff independent results, OPE in the multichannel system is to be supplemented with $S$-$D$ mixing contact terms. We demonstrate that the experimental data for the $J/\psi p$ invariant mass distribution are consistent with the interpretation of the $P_c(4312)$ and $P_c(4440)/P_c(4457)$ as $\Sigma_c\bar{D}$ and $\Sigma_c \bar{D}^{*}$ hadronic molecules, respectively, and that the data show clear evidence for a new narrow $P_c(4380)$, as a $\Sigma_c^*\bar D$ molecule, which should exist as a consequence of HQSS. While two equally good solutions are found in scheme I, only one of these solutions with the quantum numbers of the $P_c(4440)$ and $P_c(4457)$ being $J^P=3/2^-$ and $1/2^-$, respectively, survives the requirement of regulator independence once the OPE is included. Moreover, we predict the line shapes in the elastic and inelastic channels and demonstrate that those related to the $P_c(4440)$ and the $P_c(4457)$ in the corresponding $\Sigma_c^{(*)}\bar{D}$ and $\eta_cp$ mass distributions allow one to confirm the quantum numbers given above, once the data are available.