Pentaquark states have been extensively investigated theoretically in the context of the constituent quark model. In this paper results of an experimental search for pentaquarks in the ${\mathrm{\Xi }}^{-}$ ${\pi }^{-}$, ${\mathrm{\Xi }}^{-}$ ${\pi }^{+}$, ${\overline{\mathrm{\Xi }}}^{+}$ ${\pi }^{-}$ and ${\overline{\mathrm{\Xi }}}^{+}$ ${\pi }^{+}$ invariant mass spectra in proton-proton interactions at $\sqrt{s}=17.3\mathrm{GeV}$ are presented. Previous possible evidence from the NA49 collaboration of the existence of a narrow ${\mathrm{\Xi }}^{-}$ ${\pi }^{-}$ baryon resonance in $\mathrm{p}+\mathrm{p}$ interactions is not confirmed with almost 10 times greater event statistics. The search was performed using the NA61/SHINE detector which reuses the main components of the NA49 apparatus. No signal was observed with either the selection cuts of NA49 or newly optimized cuts.

• Received 8 January 2020
• Accepted 26 February 2020

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.101.051101

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Published by the American Physical Society