Evidence for a bound H dibaryon from lattice QCD

Area of Science:

• Nuclear Physics
• Particle Physics
• Quantum Chromodynamics

Background:

• The H dibaryon, a hypothetical particle composed of six quarks (uuddss), has long been theorized but experimentally elusive.
• Understanding the interactions of quarks and gluons is crucial for comprehending the structure of atomic nuclei and exotic hadrons.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present evidence for the existence of a bound H dibaryon.
• To determine the binding energy of the H dibaryon using lattice QCD.

Main Methods:

• Lattice quantum chromodynamics (QCD) calculations were performed on four ensembles of anisotropic clover gauge-field configurations.
• Simulations were conducted with spatial extents of L∼2.0, 2.5, 3.0, and 3.9 fm at a spatial lattice spacing of b(s)∼0.123 fm.
• The study focused on an I=0, J=0, s=-2 state with a valence quark structure of uuddss.

Main Results:

• Evidence for a bound H dibaryon was found at a pion mass of m(π)∼389 MeV.
• The calculated binding energy of the H dibaryon is B(∞)(H)=16.6±2.1±4.6 MeV.
• The results were obtained from lattice QCD calculations.

Conclusions:

• The study provides compelling evidence for the existence of the H dibaryon as a bound state.
• These findings have significant implications for nuclear physics and our understanding of the strong nuclear force.
• Further investigations are warranted to explore the properties and interactions of the H dibaryon.