The Flux Tube Model: Applications, Tests, and Extensions

TL;DR

This paper reviews and critiques the Isgur-Paton flux tube model of hadronic physics, comparing it with lattice gauge theory results and discussing various applications and limitations.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive analysis of the flux tube model's successes and shortcomings, including new insights into hybrid states and decay processes.

Findings

The flux tube model aligns well with lattice results on hybrid masses.

Identifies key limitations in modeling hybrid meson decays.

Discusses the impact of adiabatic surface crossing on the model.

Abstract

A review and critique of the Isgur-Paton flux tube model of hadronic physics is presented. This entails a detailed comparison with recent lattice gauge theory results which exposes both the successes and shortcomings of the model. Applications to hybrid masses, meson and hybrid meson decays, hadronic charge radii, the spin-orbit force, baryonic hybrids, and hybrid photocouplings are also discussed. Finally, I comment on the issue of adiabatic surface crossing which appears in both the flux tube model and lattice studies.