Exploring $K\Xi^*$ and $K^*\Xi$ molecular states and the triangle singularity in the $K^- p \to K \Xi(1530)$ reaction

Abstract

We investigate the $K^- p \to K \Xi(1530)$ reaction within an effective Lagrangian approach, exploring possible $K \Xi^*$ and $K^* \Xi$ hadronic molecular states and the role of the triangle singularity (TS). The $\Lambda(2050)3/2^-$ is interpreted as a $K \Xi^*$ molecule, whereas a $K^* \Xi$ molecule with $I(J^P)=0(3/2^-)$ and mass about 2150~MeV denoted as $\Lambda(2150)$ can generate a TS through triangle-loop diagrams with intermediate $K^*$, $\Xi$, and $\pi$. The peak structure observed in the cross section near $\sqrt{s}=2.25$ GeV is analyzed in terms of both the $\Sigma(2250)$ resonance production and the TS mechanism associated with $\Lambda(2150)$. We find that the TS induces pronounced spin effects in the final state $\Xi^*$, which can be probed through measurements of its spin density matrix elements. In particular, significant variations of the spin observables in the $\sqrt{s}=2.2$--$2.3$ GeV region serve as a distinct TS signature absent in a pure resonance scenario. Furthermore, for the three-body reaction $K^- p \to K^+ \pi^- \Xi^0$, we demonstrate that $\Xi^*$ spin observables can be reliably extracted from the $\pi$ angular distribution in the $\Xi \pi$ rest frame by applying an appropriate kinematic cut on the $\Xi\pi$ invariant mass to suppress background contributions. These predictions can be tested in future high-precision measurements at J-PARC, providing crucial insights into the nature of the TS and the possible existence of the $K^* \Xi$ molecular state.