Pentaquark Decay Width in QCD Sum Rules

Abstract

In a diquark-diquark-antiquark picture of the pentaquark we study the decay $\Theta \to K^{+}n$ within the framework of QCD sum rules. After evaluation of the relevant three-point function, we extract the coupling $g_{\Theta nK}$ which is directly related to the pentaquark width. Restricting the decay diagrams to those with color exchange between the meson-like and baryon-like clusters reduces the coupling constant by a factor of four. Whereas a small decay width might be possible for a positive parity pentaquark, it seems difficult to explain the measured width for a pentaquark with negative parity.

20 pages, 6 figures