QCD sum rules study of Ξc and Ξb baryons

We use QCD sum rules to study the masses of the baryons Xi(c) and Xi(b). We work with a current where the strange and the light quarks are in a relative spin zero, at leading order in alpha(s). We consider the contributions of condensates up to dimension six. For Xi(b) we get m(Xi b) = (5.75 +/- 0.25) GeV, and for Xi(c) we get m(Xi c) (2.5 +/- 0.2) GeV, both in excellent agreement with the experimental values. We also make predictions to the state Omega(b) (ssb) obtaining m(Omega b) = (5.82 +/- 0.23) GeV. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.