High-resolution search for the Theta(+) pentaquark via a pion-induced reaction at J-PARC

The pentaquark Theta(+) has been searched for via the pi(-) p --> K- X reaction with beam momenta of 1.92 and 2.01 GeV/c at J-PARC. A missing mass resolution of 2 MeV (FWHM) was achieved but no sharp peak structure was observed. The upper limits on the production cross section averaged over the scattering angle from 2 degrees to 15 degrees in the laboratory frame were found to be less than 0.28 mu b/sr at the 90% confidence level for both the 1.92- and 2.01- GeV/c data. The systematic uncertainty of the upper limits was controlled within 10%. Constraints on the Theta(+) decay width were also evaluated with a theoretical calculation using an effective Lagrangian. The present result implies that the width should be less than 0.36 and 1.9 MeV for the spin-parity of 1/2(+) and 1/2(-), respectively.