Partial wave analysis of the reaction p(3.5 GeV)+p → pK+Λ to search for the “ppK−” bound state

Employing the Bonn-Gatchina partial wave analysis framework (PWA), we have analyzed HADES data of the reaction p(3.5GeV ) + p !pK + �. This reaction might contain information about the kaonic cluster ”ppK − ” via its decay into p�. Due to interference effects in our coherent description of the data, a hypothetical KNN (or, specifically ”ppK − ”) cluster signal must not necessarily show up as a pronounced feature (e.g. a peak) in an invariant mass spectra like p�. Our PWA analysis includes a variety of resonant and non-resonant intermediate states and delivers a good description of our data (various angular distributions and two-hadron invariant mass spectra) without a contribution of a KNN cluster. At a confidence level of CLs=95% such a cluster can not contribute more than 2-12% to the total cross section with a pK + � final state, which translates into a production cross-section between 0.7 µb and 4.2 µb, respectively. The