K- pp system with chiral SU(3) effective interaction

The K- pp system is investigated using a variational approach with realistic two-body interactions: the Argonne v18 NN potential and an energy dependent (K) over barN effective interaction derived from chiral SU(3) coupled-channel dynamics. Uncertainties in subthreshold extrapolations of the (K) over barN interaction are considered. A weakly bound K- pp state is found, with a binding energy B = (19 +/- 3) MeV substantially smaller than suggested in previous calculations. The decay width Gamma(K(-)pp -> pi Sigma N) is estimated to range between about 40 and 70 MeV. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.