Spectrum and structure of octet and decuplet baryons and their positive-parity excitations

Abstract

A continuum approach to the three-valence-quark bound-state problem in quantum field theory, employing parametrizations of the necessary kernel elements, is used to compute the spectrum and Poincaré-covariant wave functions for all flavor-SU(3) octet and decuplet baryons and their first positive-parity excitations. Such analyses predict the existence of nonpointlike, dynamical quark-quark (diquark) correlations within all baryons; and a uniformly sound description of the systems studied is obtained by retaining flavor-antitriplet-scalar and flavor-sextet-pseudovector diquarks. Thus constituted, the rest-frame wave function of every system studied is primarily S wave in character; and the first positive-parity excitation of each octet or decuplet baryon exhibits the characteristics of a radial excitation. Importantly, every ground-state octet and decuplet baryon possesses a radial excitation. Hence, the analysis predicts the existence and masses of positive-parity excitations of the Ξ, Ξ∗, and ω baryons, states which have not yet been empirically identified. This body of analysis suggests that the expression of emergent mass generation is the same in all u, d, and s baryons and, notably, that dynamical quark-quark correlations play an essential role in the structure of each one. It also provides the basis for developing an array of predictions that can be tested in new generation experiments.