Mass spectra of heavy baryons are calculated in the heavy-quark–light-diquark picture in the framework of the QCD-motivated relativistic quark model. The dynamics of light quarks in the diquark as well as the dynamics of the heavy quark and light diquark in the baryon are treated completely relativistically without application of nonrelativistic $v/c$ and heavy quark $1/m_Q$ expansions. Such an approach allows us to get predictions for the heavy baryon masses for rather high orbital and radial excitations. On this basis the Regge trajectories of heavy baryons for orbital and radial excitations are constructed, and their linearity, parallelism, and equidistance are verified. The relations between the slopes and intercepts of heavy baryons are considered and a comparison of the slopes of Regge trajectories for heavy baryons and heavy-light mesons is performed. All available experimental data on heavy baryons fit nicely to the constructed Regge trajectories. The possible assignment of the quantum numbers to the observed excited charmed baryons is discussed.

• Received 6 May 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.84.014025