QCD meson spectrum in the large $N_C$ limit

TL;DR

This paper computes the low-energy meson mass spectrum in large $N_C$ QCD using perturbation theory, showing good agreement with experimental data and confirming the smoothness of the 't Hooft limit.

Contribution

It provides explicit calculations of the meson spectrum up to fourth order in strong coupling perturbation theory in the large $N_C$ limit.

Findings

Meson masses match experimental values closely.

The 't Hooft limit remains smooth at the computed orders.

Explicit evaluation of low-lying states up to fourth order.

Abstract

The low energy mass spectrum of QCD in the large $N_C$ limit is computed. The low-lying states in the meson spectrum are explicitly evaluated up to the fourth order in the strong coupling perturbative expansion. The 't Hooft limit is smooth and the meson masses are in very good agreement with the experimental values.