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Scattering of ΛcΛc and ΛcΛ¯c in chiral effective field theory

Zhe Liu1,2,5,*, Hao Xu4,†, Zhan-Wei Liu1,2,3,5, and Xiang Liu1,2,3,5,‡

  • 1School of Physical Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
  • 2Lanzhou Center for Theoretical Physics, Key Laboratory of Theoretical Physics of Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Quantum Theory and Applications of MoE, Gansu Provincial Research Center for Basic Disciplines of Quantum Physics, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
  • 3MoE Frontiers Science Center for Rare Isotopes, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
  • 4Institute of Theoretical Physics, College of Physics and Electronic Engineering, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China
  • 5Research Center for Hadron and CSR Physics, Lanzhou University and Institute of Modern Physics of CAS, Lanzhou 730000, China

  • *Contact author: zhliu20@lzu.edu.cn
  • †Contact author: xuh2020@nwnu.edu.cn
  • ‡Contact author: xiangliu@lzu.edu.cn
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Phys. Rev. D 114, 054042 – Published 21 September, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/7r33-df7z

Abstract

We investigate the S-wave scatterings of ΛcΛc and ΛcΛ¯c systems within a unified chiral effective field theory framework up to next-to-leading order. The contact low-energy coupling constants are determined by fitting to the lattice QCD results for the ΛcΛc scattering phase shift at an unphysical pion mass. After extrapolating to the physical pion mass, we find a repulsive interaction in the I(JP)=0(0+) ΛcΛc channel, consistent with the lattice QCD simulation. On the ΛcΛ¯c side, using the fitted contact low-energy constants, we predict the phase shifts and potentials for ΛcΛ¯c scattering in the I(JPC)=0(0−+) and 0(1−−) channels. Attractive interactions are found in both channels, each allowing for the formation of bound states. In particular, the attraction in the 0(1−−) ΛcΛ¯c channel is stronger. In addition, our analysis reveals that the spin-spin term caused by the two-pion exchange contributes significantly to the interactions, leading to a distinct mass splitting between the 0(0−+) and 0(1−−) ΛcΛ¯c channels.

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Phys. Rev. D 114, 054042– Published 21 September, 2026
  • Received 25 March 2026
  • Accepted 25 August 2026
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