Revisiting η′(958) nuclear states

Observing η′-nuclear quasibound states requires that the η′-nuclear potential is both sufficiently attractive and weakly absorptive, as confirmed by the CBELSA/TAPS collaboration analysis of inclusive η′ production experiments on nuclear targets, including liquid hydrogen (LH2). Here we present an alternative derivation of the η′-nuclear potential, constrained by near-threshold pp→ppη′ and γp→η′p production experiments on a free proton. The resulting η′-nuclear potential is weakly attractive and strongly absorptive, to the extent that observation of clear signals of η′-nuclear quasibound states is unlikely. Possible exceptions resulting from the dynamics of the nearby I=12Jπ=(12)− nucleon resonance N*(1895) are briefly discussed.