Hadron Loops: General Theorems and Application to Charmonium

In this paper we develop a formalism for incorporating hadron loops in the quark model. We derive expressions for mass shifts, continuum components and mixing amplitudes of "quenched" quark model states due to hadron loops, as perturbation series in the valence-continuum coupling Hamiltonian. We prove three general theorems regarding the effects of hadron loops, which show that given certain constraints on the external "bare" quark model states, the valence-continuum coupling, and the hadrons summed in the loops, the following results hold: (1) The loop mass shifts are identical for all states within a given N,L multiplet. (2) These states have the same total open-flavor decay widths. (3) Loop-induced valence configuration mixing vanishes provided that {\L}_i \neq \L_f or $\S_i \neq \S_f$. The charmonium system is used as a numerical case study, with the $^3\P_0$ decay model providing the valence-continuum coupling. We evaluate the mass shifts and continuum mixing numerically for all 1S, 1P and 2S charmonium valence states due to loops of D, D$^*$, D$_s$ and D$_s^*$ meson pairs. We find that the mass shifts are quite large, but are numerically similar for all the low-lying charmonium states, as suggested by the first theorem. Thus, loop mass shifts may have been "hidden" in the valence quark model by a change of parameters. The two-meson continuum components of the physical charmonium states are also found to be large, creating challenges for the interpretation of the constituent quark model.Comment: 10 pages, 1 ps figure. Typos corrected; discussion of psi-eta_c mass splitting added, published versio

The Impact of the Economic Crisis on Women's Economic Empowerment

This paper argues that a systematic gender analysis of the current crisis is critical to develop viable solutions and for furthering the trend toward gender equality. It analyses the short- and long-term impact of the current economic crisis with a focus on developing countries. It identifies the multiple channels and transmission mechanisms through which the global economic crisis has affected women's lives and explores different areas where the burden of the crisis falls on poor women, using current indications, micro-level evidence and lessons learned from previous crises. The paper shows that the magnitude and types of effects are context-specific: they are likely to vary across countries, sectors, households and among women, depending on the economic, demographic and social circumstances. In the short run, many women are expected to lose their jobs, particularly those working on the export sectors and/or holding flexible jobs. At the same time, a fall in the supply of micro-credit is expected to result in a decrease in earnings among self-employed women workers in trade, agriculture and other sectors. Additionally, there will likely be an increase in the amount of unpaid work that women do to support their families. In the long-run, it is expected that an increase in girls' dropout rate from school to compensate for their families' loss of income will deteriorate women's future socioeconomic opportunities. In addition, an increase in the level of violence against women, combined with limited access to health and other support services as a result of public expenditure cuts and lower aid receipts, complete the dim picture of the gendered impact of the crisis in developing countries. The paper concludes that it is essential to implement mechanisms to mitigate the negative effects of the crisis on women, in order to ensure that the gains in women's empowerment and gender equality in the last few decades are not put in danger. Furthermore, it is argued that the crisis can be used as a unique opportunity to change power structures and make economic and social policies more gender-aware and move toward creating a more gender-equal society and economic system. To that end, civil society involvement to monitor the gender effects of the crisis in the short and medium term, as well as government-led (and donor supported) gender-aware response packages will be essential.

Light composite Higgs boson from the normalized Bethe-Salpeter equation

Scalar composite boson masses have been computed in QCD and Technicolor theories with the help of the homogeneous Bethe-Salpeter equation (BSE), resulting in a scalar mass that is twice the dynamically generated fermion or technifermion mass ($m_{dyn}$). We show that in the case of walking (or quasi-conformal) technicolor theories, where the $m_{dyn}$ behavior with the momenta may be quite different from the one predicted by the standard operator product expansion, this result is incomplete and we must consider the effect of the normalization condition of the BSE to determine the scalar masses. We compute the composite Higgs boson mass for several groups with technifermions in the fundamental and higher dimensional representations and comment about the experimental constraints on these theories, which indicate that models based on walking theories with fermions in the fundamental representation may, within the limitations of our approach, have masses quite near the actual direct exclusion limit.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures, minor corrections, to appear in Physical Review

Unquenching the scalar glueball

Computations in the quenched approximation on the lattice predict the lightest glueball to be a scalar in the 1.5-1.8 GeV region. Here we calculate the dynamical effect the coupling to two pseudoscalars has on the mass, width and decay pattern of such a scalar glueball. These hadronic interactions allow mixing with the $q \overline q$ scalar nonet, which is largely fixed by the well-established K_0^*(1430). This non-perturbative mixing means that, if the pure gluestate has a width to two pseudoscalar channels of ~100 MeV as predicted on the lattice, the resulting hadron has a width to these channels of only ~30 MeV with a large eta-eta component. Experimental results need to be reanalyzed in the light of these predictions to decide if either the f_0(1500) or an f_0(1710) coincides with this dressed glueball.Comment: 12 pages, LaTex, 3 Postscript figure

Possible Molecular States of Ds∗Dˉs∗D^{*}_s\bar{D}^{*}_s System and Y(4140)

The interpretation of Y(4140) as a $D^{*}_s\bar{D}^{*}_s$ molecule is studied dynamically in the one boson exchange approach, where $\sigma$, $\eta$ and $\phi$ exchange are included. Ten allowed $D^{*}_s\bar{D}^{*}_s$ states with low spin parity are considered, we find that the $J^{PC}=0^{++}$, $1^{+-}$, $0^{-+}$, $2^{++}$ and $1^{--}$ $D^{*}_s\bar{D}^{*}_s$ configurations are most tightly bound. We suggest the most favorable quantum numbers are $J^{PC}=0^{++}$ for Y(4140) as a $D^{*}_s\bar{D}^{*}_s$ molecule, however, $J^{PC}=0^{-+}$ and $2^{++}$ can not be excluded. We propose to search for the $1^{+-}$ and $1^{--}$ partners in the $J/\psi\eta$ and $J/\psi\eta'$ final states, which is an important test of the molecular hypothesis of Y(4140) and the reasonability of our model. The $0^{++}$ $B^{*}_s\bar{B}^{*}_s$ molecule is deeply bound, experimental search in the $\Upsilon(1S)\phi$ channel at Tevatron and LHC is suggested.Comment: 13 pages,2 figure

Coupled-channel model for charmonium levels and an option for X(3872)

The effects of charmed meson loops on the spectrum of charmonium are considered, with special attention paid to the levels above open-charm threshold. It is found that the coupling to charmed mesons generates a structure at the D \bar{D}* threshold in the 1++ partial wave. The implications for the nature of the X(3872) state are discussed.Comment: 27 pages, 7 EPS figure

A chiral model for bar{q}q and bar{q}bar{q}qq$ mesons

We point out that the spectrum of pseudoscalar and scalar mesons exhibits a cuasi-degenerate chiral nonet in the energy region around 1.4 GeV whose scalar component has a slightly inverted spectrum. Based on the empirical linear rising of the mass of a hadron with the number of constituent quarks which yields a mass around $1.4$GeV for tetraquarks, we conjecture that this cuasi-chiral nonet arises from the mixing of a chiral nonet composed of tetraquarks with conventional bar{q}q states. We explore this possibility in the framework of a chiral model assuming a tetraquark chiral nonet around 1.4 GeV with chiral symmetry realized directly. We stress that U_{A}(1) transformations can distinguish bar{q}q from tetraquark states, although it cannot distinguish specific dynamics in the later case. We find that the measured spectrum is consistent with this picture. In general, pseudoscalar states arise as mainly bar{q}q states but scalar states turn out to be strong admixtures of bar{q}q and tetraquark states. We work out also the model predictions for the most relevant couplings and calculate explicitly the strong decays of the a_{0}(1450) and K_{0}^*(1430) mesons. From the comparison of some of the predicted couplings with the experimental ones we conclude that observable for the isovector and isospinor sectors are consistently described within the model. The proper description of couplings in the isoscalar sectors would require the introduction of glueball fields which is an important missing piece in the present model.Comment: 20 pages, 3 figure

The multiplets of finite width 0++ mesons and encounters with exotics

Complex-mass (finite-width) $0^{++}$ nonet and decuplet are investigated by means of exotic commutator method. The hypothesis of vanishing of the exotic commutators leads to the system of master equations (ME). Solvability conditions of these equations define relations between the complex masses of the nonet and decuplet mesons which, in turn, determine relations between the real masses (mass formulae), as well as between the masses and widths of the mesons. Mass formulae are independent of the particle widths. The masses of the nonet and decuplet particles obey simple ordering rules. The nonet mixing angle and the mixing matrix of the isoscalar states of the decuplet are completely determined by solution of ME; they are real and do not depend on the widths. All known scalar mesons with the mass smaller than $2000MeV$ (excluding $\sigma(600)$) and one with the mass $2200\div2400MeV$ belong to two multiplets: the nonet $(a_0(980), K_0(1430), f_0(980), f_0(1710))$ and the decuplet $(a_0(1450), K_0(1950), f_0(1370), f_0(1500), f_0(2200)/f_0(2330))$. It is shown that the famed anomalies of the $f_0(980)$ and $a_0(980)$ widths arise from an extra "kinematical" mechanism, suppressing decay, which is not conditioned by the flavor coupling constant. Therefore, they do not justify rejecting the $q\bar{q}$ structure of them. A unitary singlet state (glueball) is included into the higher lying multiplet (decuplet) and is divided among the $f_0(1370)$ and $f_0(1500)$ mesons. The glueball contents of these particles are totally determined by the masses of decuplet particles. Mass ordering rules indicate that the meson $\sigma(600)$ does not mix with the nonet particles.Comment: 22 pp, 1 fig, a few changes in argumentation, conclusions unchanged. Final version to appear in EPJ

Scalar meson dynamics in Chiral Perturbation Theory

A comparison of the linear sigma model (L$\sigma$M) and Chiral Perturbation Theory (ChPT) predictions for pion and kaon dynamics is presented. Lowest and next-to-leading order terms in the ChPT amplitudes are reproduced if one restricts to scalar resonance exchange. Some low energy constants of the order $p^4$ ChPT Lagrangian are fixed in terms of scalar meson masses. Present values of these low energy constants are compatible with the L$\sigma$M dynamics. We conclude that more accurate values would be most useful either to falsify the L$\sigma$M or to show its capability to shed some light on the controversial scalar physics.Comment: 9 pages, REVTeX 4.0. Final version accepted for publicatio

Large Nc and Chiral Dynamics

We study the dependence on the number of colors of the leading pi pi scattering amplitude in chiral dynamics. We demonstrate the existence of a critical number of colors for and above which the low energy pi pi scattering amplitude computed from the simple sum of the current algebra and vector meson terms is crossing symmetric and unitary at leading order in a truncated and regularized 1/Nc expansion. The critical number of colors turns out to be Nc=6 and is insensitive to the explicit breaking of chiral symmetry. Below this critical value, an additional state is needed to enforce the unitarity bound; it is a broad one, most likely of "four quark" nature.Comment: RevTeX4, 6 fig., 5 page