Heavy and heavy-light tensor and axial-tensor mesons in the Covariant Spectator Theory

TL;DR

This paper calculates tensor and axial-tensor mesons with high spin using Covariant Spectator Theory, employing a refined interaction kernel to accurately fit experimental meson mass spectra with minimal parameters.

Contribution

First calculation of high-spin tensor mesons in Covariant Spectator Theory with a momentum-dependent interaction kernel, achieving excellent spectral fits.

Findings

Accurate mass spectrum description for various J^P states.

Refined kernel improves upon previous constant-term models.

Only eight parameters needed for comprehensive fit.

Abstract

We present the first calculation of tensor and axial-tensor mesons with total spin $J\geq2$ within the Covariant Spectator Theory. We employ a refined quark-antiquark interaction kernel that incorporates the momentum dependence of the strong coupling, replacing the previously used constant term of the kernel. Global least-squares fits to the masses of experimentally established heavy and heavy-light meson states yield an excellent description of the mass spectrum for $J^P=0^\pm, 1^\pm, 2^\pm$, and $3^\pm$ using only eight adjustable parameters.