Hydrogen-like symmetry in Regge spectrum of light mesons: selection of states

Abstract

We discuss the $(L,n)$-classification of excited light non-strange mesons, where $L$ and $n$ are orbital and radial quantum numbers. The selection of true non-strange quark-antiquark excited states and assigning to them definite $L$ and $n$ is a notoriously confusing problem. Three guiding principles for selection of correct observed states are formulated. They are applied for construction of a new $(L,n)$-classification. This classification is consistent both with the approximate Regge form of the spectrum and with the hydrogen-like degeneracy, i.e., the dependence of mass on the sum $L+n$.