The structure of the moleculelike state of $\mathit{NK}\pi$ with spin-parity $J^{\pi }={\frac{3}{2}}^{-}$ and isospin $I=1$ is studied within the chiral SU(3) quark model. First we calculate the $\mathit{NK},N\pi$, and $K\pi$ phase shifts in the framework of the resonating group method, and a qualitative agreement with the experimental data is obtained. Then we perform a rough estimation for the energy of $(\mathit{NK}\pi ){}_{J^{\pi }={\frac{3}{2}}^{-},I=1}$, and the effect of the mixing to the configuration $(\Delta K){}_{J^{\pi }={\frac{3}{2}}^{-},I=1}$ is also considered. The calculated energy is very close to the threshold of the $\mathit{NK}\pi$ system. A detailed investigation is worth doing in the further study.

• Received 6 June 2005

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.72.065208