Odyssey of the Elusive \({\mit \Theta }^+\)

\({\mit \Theta }^+\) is a putative light pentaquark state of positive parity with minimal quark content \((uudd\bar {s})\). It naturally emerges in chiral models for baryons, but experimental evidence is uncertain. We review the theoretical foundations of chiral models and their phenomenological applications to exotic states. In particular, we discuss in detail the pentaquark widths with special emphasis on the cancellations occurring in the decay operator. We also discuss some experiments, mainly those whose positive evidence of \({\mit \Theta }^+\) persists to this day. This review is dedicated to Dmitry Diakonov, Victor Petrov, and Maxim Polyakov and their contribution to the \({\mit \Theta }^+\) story. Abstract Published by the Jagiellonian University 2025 authors