The pole structure of the Lambda(1405) in a recent QCD simulation

The $\Lambda(1405)$ baryon is difficult to detect in experiment, absent in many quark model calculations, and supposedly manifested through a two-pole structure. Its uncommon properties made it subject to numerous experimental and theoretical studies in recent years. Lattice-QCD eigenvalues for different quark masses were recently reported by the Adelaide group. We compare these eigenvalues to predictions of a model based on Unitary Chiral Perturbation Theory. The UCHPT calculation predicts the quark mass dependence remarkably well. It also explains the overlap pattern with different meson-baryon components, mainly $\pi\Sigma$ and $\bar KN$, at different quark masses. More accurate lattice QCD data are required to draw definite conclusions on the nature of the $\Lambda(1405)$.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figure

Chiral dynamics in the gamma p --> pi^0 eta p and gamma p --> pi^0 K^0 Sigma^+ reactions

Using a chiral unitary approach for meson-baryon scattering in the strangeness zero sector, where the $N^*(1535)$ resonance is dynamically generated, we study the reactions $\gamma p \to \pi^0 \eta p$ and $\gamma p \to \pi^0 K^0 \Sigma^+$ at photon energies at which the final states are produced close to threshold. Among several reaction mechanisms, we find the most important is the excitation of the $\Delta^*(1700)$ state which subsequently decays into a pseudoscalar meson and a baryon belonging to the $\Delta(1232)$ decuplet. Hence, the reaction provides useful information with which to test current theories of the dynamical generation of the low-lying $3/2^-$ states. The first reaction is shown to lead to sizable cross sections and the $N^*(1535)$ resonance shape is seen clearly in the $\eta p$ invariant mass distribution. The same dynamical model is shown to lead to much smaller cross sections at low energies in the second reaction. Predictions are made for cross sections and invariant mass distributions which can be compared with forthcoming experiments at ELSA.Comment: 22 pages, 22 figure

Chiral Dynamics and S-wave Contributions in Semileptonic B decays

The flavor-changing neutral current process $b\to s l^+l^-$ is beneficial to testing the standard model and hunting for new physics scenarios. In exclusive decay modes like $B\to K^*(892)l^+l^-$, the S-wave effects may not be negligible and thus have to be reliably estimated. Using the scalar form factors derived from dispersion relations in two channels and matched to Chiral Perturbation Theory, we investigate the S-wave contributions in $\bar B^0\to K^- \pi^+ l^+l^-$, with the $K\pi$ invariant mass lying in the vicinity of the mass of $K^*(892)$, and the $B_s\to K^- K^+ l^+l^-$ with $m_{KK}\sim m_{\phi}$. We find that the S-wave will modify differential decay widths by about 10% in the process of $\bar B^0\to K^- \pi^+ l^+l^-$ and about 5% in $B_s\to K^- K^+ l^+l^-$. A forward-backward asymmetry for the charged kaon in the final state arises from the interference between the S-wave and P-wave contributions. The measurement of this asymmetry offers a new way to determine the variation of the $K\pi$ S-wave phase versus the invariant mass.Comment: 26 pages, 10 figure

Heavy quark free energies and screening at finite temperature and density

We study the free energies of heavy quarks calculated from Polyakov loop correlation functions in full 2-flavour QCD using the p4-improved staggered fermion action. A small but finite Baryon number density is included via Taylor expansion of the fermion determinant in the Baryo-chemical potential mu. For temperatures above Tc we extract Debye screening masses from the large distance behaviour of the free energies and compare their mu-dependence to perturbative results.Comment: 6 pages, Presented at 23rd International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory (Lattice 2005), Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, 25-30 Jul 200

Recent developments in chiral dynamics of hadrons and hadrons in nuclei

In this talk I present recent developments in the field of hadronic physics and hadrons in the nuclear medium. I review the unitary chiral approach to meson baryon interaction and address the topics of the two dynamically generated $\Lambda(1405)$ resonances, with experiments testing it, the $\Lambda(1520)$ and $\Delta(1700)$ resonances, plus the $\Lambda(1520)$, $\Sigma(1385)$ and $\omega$ in the nuclear medium.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figures, Talk at YKIS06 Kyoto Symposium, Kyoto, december 200

Study of excited nucleon states at EBAC: status and plans

We present an overview of a research program for the excited nucleon states in Excited Baryon Analysis Center (EBAC) at Jefferson Lab. Current status of our analysis of the meson production reactions based on the unitary dynamical coupled-channels model is summarized, and the N* pole positions extracted from the constructed scattering amplitudes are presented. Our plans for future developments are also discussed.Comment: Plenary talk given at Workshop on the Physics of Excited Nucleon -- NSTAR2009, Beijing, April 19-22, 2009. 8 pages, 8 figure