We show how it is possible to define and compute the potential between $q$ and $bar q$ external sources in the singlet and octet (adjoint) representation of the colour group.
Recent discoveries by Belle and BESIII of charged exotic quarkonium-like resonances provide fresh impetus for study of heavy exotic hadrons. In the limit N_c --> infinity, M_Q --> infinity, the (Qbar Q qbar q) tetraquarks (TQ-s) are expected to be narrow and slightly below or above the (Qbar q) and (Q qbar) two-meson threshold. The isoscalar TQ-s manifest themselves by decay to (Qbar Q) pi pi, and the ~30 MeV heavier charged isotriplet TQ-s by decays into (Qbar Q) pi. The new data strongly suggest that the real world with N_c=3, Q=c,b and q,q = u,d is qualitatively described by the above limit. We discuss the relevant theoretical estimates and suggest new signatures for TQ-s in light of the recent discoveries. We also consider baryon-like states (Q Q qbar qbar), which if found will be direct evidence not just for near-threshold binding of two heavy mesons, but for genuine tetraquarks with novel color networks. We stress the importance of experimental search for doubly-heavy baryons in this context.
The mass spectra and decay properties of heavy quarkonia are computed in nonrelativistic quark-antiquark Cornell potential model. We have employed the numerical solution of Schrodinger equation to obtain their mass spectra using only four parameters namely quark mass ($m_c$, $m_b$) and confinement strength ($A_{cbar c}$, $A_{bbar b}$). The spin hyperfine, spin-orbit and tensor components of the one gluon exchange interaction are computed perturbatively to determine the mass spectra of excited $S$, $P$, $D$ and $F$ states. Digamma, digluon and dilepton decays of these mesons are computed using the model parameters and numerical wave functions. The predicted spectroscopy and decay properties for quarkonia are found to be consistent with available experimental observations and results from other theoretical models. We also compute mass spectra and life time of the $B_c$ meson without additional parameters. The computed electromagnetic transition widths of heavy quarkonia and $B_c$ mesons are in tune with available experimental data and other theoretical approaches.
We study the $qbar{q}$ potential in strongly coupled non-conformal field theories with a non-trivial renormalization group flow via holography. We focus on the properties of this potential at an inter-quark separation $L$ large compared to the characteristic scale of the field theory. These are determined by the leading order IR physics plus a series of corrections, sensitive to the properties of the RG-flow. To determine those corrections, we propose a general method applying holographic Wilsonian renormalization to a dual string. We apply this method to examine in detail two sets of examples, $3+1$-dimensional theories with an RG flow ending in an IR fixed point; and theories that are confining in the IR, in particular, the Witten QCD and Klebanov-Strassler models. In both cases, we find corrections with a universal dependence on the inter-quark separation. When there is an IR fixed point, that correction decays as a power $sim 1/L^4$. We explain that dependence in terms of a double-trace deformation in a one-dimensional defect theory. For a confining theory, the decay is exponential $sim e^{-ML}$, with $M$ a scale of the order of the glueball mass. We interpret this correction using an effective flux tube description as produced by a background internal mode excitation induced by sources localized at the endpoints of the flux tube. We discuss how these results could be confronted with lattice QCD data to test whether the description of confinement via the gauge/gravity is qualitatively correct.
We have systematically calculated the mass spectra for S-wave and P-wave fully-charm $cbar{c}cbar{c}$ and fully-bottom $bbar{b}bbar{b}$ tetraquark states in the $mathbf{8}_{[Qbar{Q}]}otimes mathbf{8}_{[Qbar{Q}]}$ color configuration, by using the moment QCD sum rule method. The masses for the fully-charm $cbar ccbar c$ tetraquark states are predicted about $6.3-6.5$ GeV for S-wave channels and $7.0-7.2$ GeV for P-wave channels. These results suggest the possibility that there are some $mathbf{8}_{[cbar{c}]}otimes mathbf{8}_{[cbar{c}]}$ components in LHCbs di-$J/psi$ structures. For the fully-bottom $bbar{b}bbar{b}$ system, their masses are calculated around 18.2 GeV for S-wave tetraquark states while 18.4-18.6 GeV for P-wave ones, which are below the $eta_beta_b$ and $Upsilon(1S)Upsilon(1S)$ two-meson decay thresholds.
The saturation of QCD chiral sum rules is reanalyzed in view of the new and complete analysis of the ALEPH experimental data on the difference between vector and axial-vector correlators (V-A). Ordinary finite energy sum rules (FESR) exhibit poor saturation up to energies below the tau-lepton mass. A remarkable improvement is achieved by introducing pinched, as well as minimizing polynomial integral kernels. Both methods are used to determine the dimension d=6 and d=8 vacuum condensates in the Operator Product Expansion, with the results: {O}_{6}=-(0.00226 pm 0.00055) GeV^6, and O_8=-(0.0053 pm 0.0033) GeV^8 from pinched FESR, and compatible values from the minimizing polynomial FESR. Some higher dimensional condensates are also determined, although we argue against extending the analysis beyond dimension d = 8. The value of the finite remainder of the (V-A) correlator at zero momentum is also redetermined: Pi (0)= -4 bar{L}_{10}=0.02579 pm 0.00023. The stability and precision of the predictions are significantly improved compared to earlier calculations using the old ALEPH data. Finally, the role and limits of applicability of the Operator Product Expansion in this channel are clarified.