Asymptotic directional structure of radiation for fields of algebraic type D

The directional behavior of dominant components of algebraically special spin-s fields near a spacelike, timelike or null conformal infinity is studied. By extending our previous general investigations we concentrate on fields which admit a pair of equivalent algebraically special null directions, such as the Petrov type D gravitational fields or algebraically general electromagnetic fields. We introduce and discuss a canonical choice of the reference tetrad near infinity in all possible situations, and we present the corresponding asymptotic directional structures using the most natural parametrizations.Comment: 20 pages, 6 figure

Experimental Outlook for the Pentaquark

A critical look is taken at both positive and null evidence for the $\Theta^+$ pentaquark. Potential problems with experiments will be discussed and the question of what conclusion can be drawn from both the positive and the null results is examined. First the question of existence of the $\Theta^+$ pentaquark is considered, followed by a discussion of new experiments that are either planned or in progress to answer questions about its mass, width and isospin. Finally, indirect evidence for the parity of the $\Theta^+$ is examined, and suggestions for experiments to measure its parity directly are given.Comment: MESON2004 conference proceedings, 10 pages, 1 figur

On the stability of quark solitons in QCD

We critically re-examine our earlier derivation of the effective low energy action for QCD in 4 dimensions with chiral fields transforming non-trivially under both color and flavor, using the method of anomaly integration. We find several changes with respect to our previous results, leading to much more compact expressions, and making it easier to compare with results of other approaches to the same problem. With the amended effective action, we find that there are no stable soliton solutions. In the context of the quark soliton program, we interpret this as an indication that the full low-energy effective action must include additional terms, reflecting possible modifications at short distances and/or the non-trivial structure of the gauge fields in the vacuum, such as \neq 0. Such terms are absent in the formalism based on anomaly integration

Exotic Baryons in Two-Dimensional QCD

Two-dimensional QCD has often been used as a laboratory for studying the full four-dimensional theory, providing, for example, an explicit realization of baryons as solitons. We review aspects of conventional baryons in two-dimensional QCD, including the classical and quantum contributions to their masses. We then discuss the spectrum of exotic baryons in two-dimensional QCD, commenting on the solitonic radius inferred from the excitation spectrum as well as the two-dimensional version of the Goldberger-Treiman relation relating meson couplings to current matrix elements. Two-dimensional QCD provides strong overall support to the chiral-soliton picture for the structure of normal and exotic baryons in four dimensions.Comment: 15 pages latex, no figure

On Electron-Positron Annihilation into Nucleon-Antinucleon Pairs

We discuss the puzzling experimental results on baryon-antibaryon production in e+e- annihilation close to the threshold, in particular the fact that sigma(e+e- --> nbar n) >~ sigma(e+e- --> pbar p). We discuss an interpretation in terms of a two-step process, via an intermediate coherent isovector state serving as an intermediary between e+e- and the baryon-antibaryon system. We provide evidence that the isovector channel dominates both e+e- --> pions and from Nbar N annihilation at rest, and show that the observed ratio of sigma(e+e- --> nbar n)/sigma(e+e- --> pbarp p) can be understood quantitatively in this picture.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figure

Model-independent analysis for determining mass splittings of heavy baryons

We study the hyperfine mass differences of heavy hadrons in the heavy quark effect theory (HQET). The effects of one-gluon exchange interaction are considered for the heavy mesons and baryons. Base on the known experimental data, we predict the masses of some heavy baryons in a model-independent way.Comment: 14 pages, 1 figur