A new baryonic state $\Lambda_{ c}(2940)^{ +}$ has recently been discovered by the Babar collaboration in the $D^{ 0}p$ channel. Later Belle collaboration also observed this state in the $\Sigma_c(2455)^{ 0,++} \pi^{ \pm}\to \Lambda_{ c}^{ +}\pi^{ +}\pi^{ -}$ channel. The mass of $\Lambda_{ c}(2940)^{ +}$ is just a few MeV below the sum of $D^{ *0}$ and $p$ masses suggesting a possibility that this state may be a $D^{ *0} p$ molecular state. In this paper we study whether such a molecular state can be consistent with data. We find that the molecular structure can explain data and that if $\Lambda_c(2940)^+$ is a $D^{ *0} p$ molecular state it is likely a $1/2^-$ state. Several other decays modes are also suggested to further test the molecular structure of $\Lambda_c^+(2940)$.
Categories: hep-ph