Dynamical study of hidden-strange pentaquarks as analogs of the hidden-charm states

Abstract Motivated by the recent BESIII experiment searching for hidden-strange exotic hadrons, we perform a systematic theoretical study of the hidden-strange pentaquark system within the framework of the quark delocalization color screening model (QDCSM) and the resonating group method (RGM). Our results show that the channel coupling effect plays an important role in the formation of bound and resonance candidates. It not only significantly enhances the short-range attraction but also induces additional attractive contributions from pion exchange. We obtain three low-lying bound-state solutions in the present S-wave calculation, with masses of 1759 MeV, 2000 MeV, and 2407 MeV. Furthermore, we predict a hidden-strange pentaquark resonance candidate, $$\Xi K^{*}$$ Ξ K ∗ , with quantum numbers $$I(J^{P})=0(1/2^{-})$$ I ( J P ) = 0 ( 1 / 2 - ) . This resonance is identified in the S -wave scattering phase shifts of the $$\Lambda \eta _{s}$$ Λ η s and $$\Lambda \phi $$ Λ ϕ open channels, with a predicted mass in the range of 2204–2208 MeV. By accounting for both the scattering width from channel coupling and the intrinsic decay width of the constituent $$K^{*}$$ K ∗ , the total decay width is estimated to be 55–63 MeV. These theoretical predictions provide important guidance for future experimental searches for such exotic states at facilities like BESIII.