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Constituent-quark-model based coupled-channels calculation of the bbc¯c¯ and bcb¯c¯ tetraquark systems

P. G. Ortega1,2,*, D. R. Entem1,2,†, F. Fernández2,‡, and J. Segovia3,§

  • *Contact author: pgortega@usal.es
  • †Contact author: entem@usal.es
  • ‡Contact author: fdz@usal.es
  • §Contact author: jsegovia@upo.es
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Phys. Rev. D 112, 054016 – Published 10 September, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/ddp1-5cqg

Abstract

We perform a coupled-channels study of the bbc¯c¯ and bcb¯c¯ tetraquark systems in a molecular approach using a constituent quark model which has been widely used to satisfactorily describe a broad range of properties of heavy quark hadron systems, either conventional or exotic. Within a molecular framework, the interaction in the heavy quark sector is governed by gluon exchange or confinement forces that are inherently color-dependent. While the BcBc system contains two identical quarks, enabling stronger interactions via exchange diagrams, the forces in the BcB¯c and (cc¯)−(bb¯) systems are expected to be significantly weaker. Consequently, the theoretical and experimental analysis of Bc(*)Bc(*), Bc(*)B¯c(*), and charmonium-bottomonium bound structures could play a crucial role in clarifying the dominant mechanisms responsible for the formation of fully heavy tetraquarks. For the bbc¯c¯ tetraquark sector, we find several resonance states with different spin-parity quantum numbers. These resonances are characterized by their proximity, but not too close, to the Bc(*)Bc(*) thresholds and their large total decay widths, indicating strong decay channels. In contrast, our analysis of the bcb¯c¯ tetraquark sector reveals no bound states, virtual states, or resonances; suggesting that tetraquark states of the (cc¯)−(bb¯) or Bc(*)B¯c(*) molecular type are unlikely to be formed, within our model assumptions.

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Phys. Rev. D 112, 054016– Published 10 September, 2025
  • Received 14 May 2025
  • Accepted 4 August 2025
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