Production of the Λc (2940) by kaon-induced reactions on a proton target

We investigate the possibility to study the charmed baryon Λc(2940) by kaon-induced reactions on a proton target. Assuming that the Λc(2940) is a pD∗0 molecular state with spin parities JP=1/2±, an effective Lagrangian approach is adopted to calculate the cross section and the D0p invariant mass spectrum of the K-p→Ds-Λc(2940) reaction. The K̄p initial state interaction mediated by Pomeron and Reggeon exchanges is also included, which reduces the production of the Λc(2940). Besides, we also consider the DN final state interaction using he chiral unitary approach. We found that the total cross section of the K-p→Λc(2940)Ds- reaction is about 10 μb. By considering the subsequential decay Λc(2940)→D0p with contributions from the Λc(2286) and the Σc(2455) as background, the K-p→Ds-D0p reaction is studied. It is found that the Λc(2940) is produced mainly at forward angles. The Λc(2940) signal is predicted to be significant in the D0p invariant mass spectrum of the K-p→Ds-D0p reaction. The results suggest that it is promising to study the Λc(2940) with high-energy kaon beams on a proton target.