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Mesons with Beauty and Charm: Spectroscopy

Estia J. Eichten, Chris Quigg

TL;DR

The study analyzes the spectrum of B_c mesons (c b̄) using nonrelativistic potential models to predict ground- and excited-state masses and wavefunctions.It computes electromagnetic (E1 and M1) and hadronic (two-pion and eta) transitions between states, yielding narrow total widths for subflavor-threshold levels and detailed transition rates.The results outline a practical experimental path to map eight low-lying c b̄ states through photon and dipion cascades in coincidence with B_c decays, providing a robust test of heavy-quark dynamics and interquark potentials.Together with weak-decay studies, the work demonstrates that B_c spectroscopy offers a meaningful probe of QCD in the heavy-quark regime.

Abstract

Applying knowledge of the interaction between heavy quarks derived from the study of $c\overline{c}$ and $b\overline{b}$ bound states, we calculate the spectrum of $c\overline{b}$ mesons. We compute transition rates for the electromagnetic and hadronic cascades that lead from excited states to the $^1\text{S}_0$ ground state, and briefly consider the prospects for experimental observation of the spectrum.

Mesons with Beauty and Charm: Spectroscopy

TL;DR

The study analyzes the spectrum of B_c mesons (c b̄) using nonrelativistic potential models to predict ground- and excited-state masses and wavefunctions.It computes electromagnetic (E1 and M1) and hadronic (two-pion and eta) transitions between states, yielding narrow total widths for subflavor-threshold levels and detailed transition rates.The results outline a practical experimental path to map eight low-lying c b̄ states through photon and dipion cascades in coincidence with B_c decays, providing a robust test of heavy-quark dynamics and interquark potentials.Together with weak-decay studies, the work demonstrates that B_c spectroscopy offers a meaningful probe of QCD in the heavy-quark regime.

Abstract

Applying knowledge of the interaction between heavy quarks derived from the study of and bound states, we calculate the spectrum of mesons. We compute transition rates for the electromagnetic and hadronic cascades that lead from excited states to the ground state, and briefly consider the prospects for experimental observation of the spectrum.

Paper Structure

This paper contains 12 sections, 54 equations, 2 figures, 11 tables.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. The Spectrum of $B_{c}$ States
  3. The Mass of $B_{c}$
  4. Excited States
  5. Properties of $c\overline{b}$ Wave Functions at the Origin
  6. Transitions between $c\overline{b}$ States
  7. Electromagnetic Transitions
  8. Electric Dipole Transitions
  9. Magnetic Dipole Transitions
  10. Hadronic Transitions
  11. Total Widths and Experimental Signatures
  12. Concluding Remarks

Figures (2)

  • Figure 1: The spectrum of $c\bar{b}$ states.
  • Figure 2: Normalized dipion mass spectrum for the transition $2^3\text{S}_1\rightarrow 1^3\text{S}_1 + \pi\pi$ in the $\psi$ (dashed curve), $B_c$ (solid curve), and $\Upsilon$ (dotted curve) families.