Operator Analysis of L=1 Baryon Masses in Large N_c QCD

We consider in detail the mass operator analysis for the nonstrange L=1 excited baryons in large N_c QCD. We present a straightforward procedure for constructing the large N_c baryon wavefunctions, and provide complete analytic expressions for the matrix elements of all the independent isosinglet mass operators. We discuss the relationship between the old-fashioned operator analyses based on nonrelativistic SU(6) symmetry and the modern large N_c approach, which has a firmer theoretical foundation. We then suggest a possible dynamical interpretation for the subset of operators preferred strongly by the data.