K- absorption in nuclei by two and three nucleons

It will be shown that the peaks in the (Lambda p) and (Lambda d) invariant mass distributions, observed in recent FINUDA experiments and claimed to be signals of deeply bound kaonic states, are naturally explained in terms of K- absorption by two or three nucleons leaving the rest of the original nuclei as spectator. For reactions on heavy nuclei, the subsequent interactions of the particles produced in the primary absorption process with the residual nucleus play an important role. Our analyses leads to the conclusion that at present there is no experimental evidence of deeply bound K- state in nuclei. Although the FINUDA experiments have been done for reasons which are not supported a posteriori, some new physics can be extracted from the data.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures. Talk presented at the International Conference on Exotic Atoms "EXA 2008", Vienna, Austria, September 15-18, 200

First exclusive measurements of the K^-pp state - populated in the pp to K^+ Lambda p reaction at 2.85 GeV

We have analyzed data of the DISTO experiment on the exclusive pp to K^+ Lambda p process at T_p = 2.85$GeV to search for a K^-pp (= X) nuclear bound state to be formed in the pp to K^+ + X reaction. The deviation spectra of the K^+ missing-mass MM (K^+) and Lambda p invariant-mass M(Lambda-p) with selection of large-angle proton emission revealed a structure with M_X = 2265 +- 2 MeV/c2 and Gamma_X = 118 +- 8$ MeV.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figues, Proceedings of EXA0

QCD and strongly coupled gauge theories : challenges and perspectives

We highlight the progress, current status, and open challenges of QCD-driven physics, in theory and in experiment. We discuss how the strong interaction is intimately connected to a broad sweep of physical problems, in settings ranging from astrophysics and cosmology to strongly coupled, complex systems in particle and condensed-matter physics, as well as to searches for physics beyond the Standard Model. We also discuss how success in describing the strong interaction impacts other fields, and, in turn, how such subjects can impact studies of the strong interaction. In the course of the work we offer a perspective on the many research streams which flow into and out of QCD, as well as a vision for future developments.Peer reviewe