Search for pentaquarks decaying to Ξπ in deep inelastic scattering at HERA

A search for pentaquarks decaying to Ξπ (Ξπ) and corresponding antiparticles has been performed with the ZEUS detector at HERA. The data sample consists of deep inelastic ep scattering events at centre-of-mass energies of 300 and 318 GeV, and corresponds to 121 pb of integrated luminosity. A clear signal for Ξ(1530) → Ξπ was observed. However, no signal for any new baryonic state was observed at higher masses in either the Ξπ or Ξπ channels. The searches in the antiparticle channels were also negative. Upper limits on the ratio of a possible Ξ 3/2 (Ξ 0 3/2) signal to the Ξ (1530) signal were set in the mass range 1650–2350 MeV. The ZEUS Collaboration S. Chekanov, M. Derrick, S. Magill, S. Miglioranzi, B. Musgrave, J. Repond, R. Yoshida Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439-4815, USA n M.C.K. Mattingly Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan 49104-0380, USA N. Pavel, A.G. Yagües Molina Institut für Physik der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany P. Antonioli, G. Bari, M. Basile, L. Bellagamba, D. Boscherini, A. Bruni, G. Bruni, G. Cara Romeo, L. Cifarelli, F. Cindolo, A. Contin, M. Corradi, S. De Pasquale, P. Giusti, G. Iacobucci, A. Margotti, A. Montanari, R. Nania, F. Palmonari, A. Pesci, A. Polini, L. Rinaldi, G. Sartorelli, A. Zichichi University and INFN Bologna, Bologna, Italy e G. Aghuzumtsyan, D. Bartsch, I. Brock, S. Goers, H. Hartmann, E. Hilger, P. Irrgang, H.P. Jakob, O. Kind, U. Meyer, E. Paul, J. Rautenberg, R. Renner, K.C. Voss, M. Wang, M. Wlasenko Physikalisches Institut der Universität Bonn, Bonn, Germany b D.S. Bailey, N.H. Brook, J.E. Cole, G.P. Heath, T. Namsoo, S. Robins H.H. Wills Physics Laboratory, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom m M. Capua, A. Mastroberardino, M. Schioppa, G. Susinno, E. Tassi Calabria University, Physics Department and INFN, Cosenza, Italy e J.Y. Kim, K.J. Ma Chonnam National University, Kwangju, South Korea g M. Helbich, Y. Ning, Z. Ren, W.B. Schmidke, F. Sciulli Nevis Laboratories, Columbia University, Irvington on Hudson, New York 10027 o J. Chwastowski, A. Eskreys, J. Figiel, A. Galas, K. Olkiewicz, P. Stopa, D. Szuba, L. Zawiejski Institute of Nuclear Physics, Cracow, Poland i L. Adamczyk, T. Bo ld, I. Grabowska-Bo ld, D. Kisielewska, A.M. Kowal, J. Lukasik, M. Przybycień, L. Suszycki, J. Szuba Faculty of Physics and Applied Computer Science, AGH-University of Science and Technology, Cracow, Poland p A. Kotański, W. S lomiński Department of Physics, Jagellonian University, Cracow, Poland