Deuteronlike Heavy Dibaryons from Lattice Quantum Chromodynamics

Area of Science:

• Nuclear Physics and Quantum Chromodynamics
• Particle Physics and Exotic Hadrons

Background:

• Deuteronlike (np-like) dibaryons with heavy quark flavors are theoretically predicted but experimentally unconfirmed.
• Understanding the interactions and potential bound states of these heavy dibaryons is crucial for advancing nuclear physics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To perform the first lattice quantum chromodynamics (QCD) study on deuteronlike dibaryons containing heavy quarks.
• To investigate the existence and properties of specific heavy dibaryon candidates, including ΩcΩcc, ΩbΩbb, and ΩccbΩcbb, and their potential as bound states.

Main Methods:

• Employed state-of-the-art lattice QCD calculations to simulate the interactions of heavy quark dibaryons.
• Controlled for relevant systematic errors to ensure the reliability of the mass predictions and bound state analyses.
• Calculated ground state masses for various heavy dibaryon configurations with J^P = 1+.

Main Results:

• Unambiguously identified bound states for ΩcΩcc, ΩbΩbb, and ΩccbΩcbb dibaryons, as their calculated masses fall below their respective two-baryon thresholds.
• Precisely predicted the masses of these stable, strongly interacting bound states.
• Observed that the binding strength increases with the mass of the dibaryon.

Conclusions:

• The findings suggest the existence of stable, strongly interacting bound states within the heavy quark dibaryon sector, expanding the known particle zoo.
• The study opens avenues for discovering other exotic nuclei formed via heavy baryon fusion, analogous to the periodic table's element formation.
• Further investigation is needed for ΣcΞcc and ΣbΞbb dibaryons due to significant systematic uncertainties.