Model-independent evidence for $J/psi p$ contributions to $Lambda_b^0to J/psi p K^-$ decays

The data sample of $Lambda_b^0to J/psi p K^-$ decays acquired with the LHCb detector from 7 and 8~TeV $pp$ collisions, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb$^{-1}$, is inspected for the presence of $J/psi p$ or $J/psi K^-$ contributions with minimal assumptions about $K^- p$ contributions. It is demonstrated at more than 9 standard deviations that $Lambda_b^0to J/psi p K^-$ decays cannot be described with $K^- p$ contributions alone, and that $J/psi p$ contributions play a dominant role in this incompatibility. These model-independent results support the previously obtained model-dependent evidence for $P_c^+to J/psi p$ charmonium-pentaquark states in the same data sample.