Interactions between Octet Baryons in the SU₆ Quark model

The baryon-baryon interactions for the complete baryon octet (B_8) are investigated in a unified framework of the resonating-group method, in which the spin-flavor SU_6 quark-model wave functions are employed. Model parameters are determined to reproduce properties of the nucleon-nucleon system and the low-energy cross section data for the hyperon-nucleon interaction. We then proceed to explore B_8 B_8 interactions in the strangeness S=-2, -3 and -4 sectors. The S-wave phase-shift behavior and total cross sections are systematically understood by 1) the spin-flavor SU_6 symmetry, 2) the special role of the pion exchange, and 3) the flavor symmetry breaking.