The Status of Exotic-quantum-number Mesons

Abstract

The search for mesons with non-quark-antiquark (exotic) quantum numbers has gone on for nearly thirty years. There currently is experimental evidence of three isospin one states, the $\pi_{1}(1400)$, the $\pi_{1}(1600)$ and the $\pi_{1}(2015)$. For all of these states, there are questions about the identification of these state, and even if some of them exist. In this article, we will review both the theoretical work and the experimental evidence associated with these exotic quantum number states. We find that the $\pi_{1}(1600)$ could be the lightest exotic quantum number hybrid meson, but observations of other members of the nonet would be useful.