The processes involving low energy KˉN and Yπ interactions (where
Y=Σ or Λ) are studied in the framework of heavy baryon chiral
perturbation theory with the Λ(1405) resonance appearing as an
independent field.
The leading and next-to-leading terms in the chiral expansion are taken into
account. We show that an approach which explicitly includes the Λ(1405)
resonance as an elementary quantum field gives reasonable descriptions of both
the threshold branching ratios and the energy dependence of total cross
sections.Comment: 16 pages, 6 figure