Search for Baryonic Resonances Decaying to Xi pi in Deep-Inelastic Scattering at HERA

Abstract

A search for narrow baryonic resonances decaying into Xi- pi- or Xi- pi+ and their antiparticles is carried out with the H1 detector using deep inelastic scattering events at HERA in the range of negative photon four-momentum transfer squared 2 < Q^2 < 100 GeV^2. No signal is observed for a new baryonic state in the mass range 1600 - 2300 MeV in either the doubly charged or the neutral decay channels. The known baryon Xi0 is observed through its decay mode into Xi- pi+. Upper limits are given on the ratio of the production rates of new baryonic states, such as the hypothetical pentaquark states Xi^{--}_{5q} or Xi^{0}_{5q}, relative to the Xi0 baryon state.

15 pages, 4 figures