arXiv subjects

P. G. Ortega

Publications and source records attributed to P. G. Ortega.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Bootstrapping Two-Nucleon Effective Field Theories

Chiral EFT yields singular potentials that require regularization and renormalization when implemented in a dynamical equation such as the Lippmann--Schwinger equation. We employ two different approaches, renormalization with contact terms -- as is most commonly done in chiral EFT -- and the exact N/D method with multiple subtractions. We start with a toy model in which we can control the finite-range expansion of the potential, treating the full potential as the `exact' theory. To assess the statistical consistency of the approaches with the full theory, we use the bootstrap technique. We apply the same framework to study the consistency of chiral EFT at LO and NLO with the Granada phase-shift analysis in the $^1S_0$ two-nucleon partial wave. Our results show that the NLO potential significantly extends the energy range over which the theory remains valid.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2026

Exploring $T_{ΥΥ}$ tetraquark candidates in a coupled-channels formalism

We investigate the spectrum of $T_{ΥΥ}$ tetraquark candidates within a coupled-channels framework. The analysis includes all $L\leq2$ combinations of $Υ(1S)$, $Υ(2S)$, $η_b(1S)$, and $η_b(2S)$ in the $J^P = 0^\pm, 1^\pm, 2^\pm$ sectors. The meson-meson interaction is derived from an underlying constituent quark model through the resonating group method, and the properties of the states are obtained from poles of the scattering matrix. We find a rich spectrum of resonant, and virtual, states distributed between the $η_b(1S)η_b(1S)$ and $Υ(2S)Υ(2S)$ thresholds. The pattern of poles exhibits approximate heavy-quark spin symmetry multiplets. Several states are dominated by a single channel and can be associated with threshold-driven structures, while higher-mass resonances show sizable mixing among channels involving radially excited bottomonia. The predicted widths range from tens to several hundred MeV. Branching ratios indicate that many states couple predominantly to final states with at least one excited bottomonium, whereas only a subset of the spectrum is expected to be visible in the $η_b(1S)η_b(1S)$, $η_b(1S)Υ(1S)$ and $Υ(1S)Υ(1S)$ channels. These results provide quantitative guidance for experimental searches of fully heavy tetraquarks and offer a test of coupled-channel dynamics and heavy-quark spin symmetry in the $bb\bar b\bar b$ sector.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2025

Can one-loop corrections to the one-gluon exchange potential adequately describe the charmed meson spectrum?

We investigate the charmed meson spectrum using a constituent quark model (CQM) with one-loop corrections applied to the one-gluon exchange (OGE) potential. The study aims to understand if the modified version of our CQM sufficiently account for the charmed meson spectrum observed experimentally, without invoking exotic quark and gluon configurations such as hybrid mesons or tetraquarks. Within this model, charmed mesons' masses are computed, comparing theoretical predictions to experimental data. The results, within uncertainties, suggest that our theoretical framework generally reproduces mass splittings and level ordering observed for charmed mesons. Particularly, large discrepancies between theory and experiment found in $P$-wave states are, at least, significantly ameliorated by incorporating higher-order interaction terms. Therefore, the findings emphasize that while the traditional quark model is limited in fully describing charmed mesons, enhanced potential terms may bridge the gap with experimental observations. The study contributes a framework for predicting excited charmed meson states for future experimental validation.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2025

The Constituent Quark Model

In this chapter we give a pedagogical introduction to the constituent quark model. The explanation of magnetic moments of the nucleons was crucial to introduce an effective quark mass for light quarks that nowadays are understood as an effect of Spontaneous Chiral Symmetry Breaking in QCD. We give an overview of the first applications of the model and an introduction to the most modern developments studying states beyond the naive quark model as tetraquarks and pentaquarks.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2024

Revisiting the proton-antiproton scattering using a constituent-quark-model based coupled-channels calculation

Motivated by the last experimental and theoretical advances in the analysis of possible baryonium resonances, the $X(1835)$ and their partners, we perform a constituent-quark-model based coupled-channels calculation of the proton-antiproton scattering in order to analyze the possible existence of bound states or near-threshold structures. The used $N\overline N$ potential is derived from a $G$-parity transformation of the quark-model-based $NN$ interaction which has described well deuteron properties, $NN$ phase shifts, and even hadron-hadron phenomenology. The additional $N\overline N$ annihilation is taken into account by a complex phenomenological potential whose real part is generated by one-pion and one-gluon exchange annihilation potentials and its imaginary part is an energy-independent potential of Gaussian form. Then, all the parameters of the interaction are constrained by the $NN$ sector except those determining the imaginary part of the annihilation potential. Our study concludes that the nucleon-antinucleon dynamics is complex and rich in scattering singularities near the proton-antiproton and neutron-antineutron thresholds.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2024

A chiral quark model analysis of the $\bar KN$ interaction

In this work we analyze the $\bar KN$ interaction in the framework of a constituent quark model. The near-threshold elastic and charge exchange cross sections are evaluated, finding a good agreement with the experimental data. Furthermore, the possible existence of $\bar KN$ bound states are explored, finding two poles in the isoscalar $J^P=\frac{1}{2}^-$ sector that can be interpreted as the experimental $Λ(1405)$ state.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2024

Exploring doubly-heavy tetraquarks in constituent-quark-model based meson-meson coupled-channels approach

The LHCb Collaboration announced in 2021 the discovery of a new tetraquark-like state, named $T_{cc}^+$, with minimum quark content $cc\bar u\bar d$, close to the $D^0D^{*+}$ threshold. This has motivated countless theoretical works trying to identify the dynamics which is responsible of the formation of such state; in particular, the one performed by us in Ref. \cite{Ortega:2022efc}, where a $D^0D^{*+}$ molecular candidate whose mass, width, scattering length and effective ranges are in reasonable agreement with experimental measurements. We explore herein the possibility of having $T_{cc}^+$ partners in all doubly-heavy tetraquark sectors, considering doubly represented light antiquarks $u$, $d$ or $s$, and taking into account all possible spin-parity quantum numbers. The computation is done using a constituent-quark-model based meson-meson coupled-channels framework which has been tested many times in the last fifteen years describing conventional heavy mesons and baryons, their coupling with hadron-hadron thresholds but also in exploring its application to compact multiquark structures. The advantage of using an approach with such a relatively large history is that it allows us to make predictions because all the parameters have already been constrained from our previous works. Then, from this perspective, we present a parameter-free model-dependent prediction of doubly-heavy tetraquarks that may be partners of the discovered $T_{cc}^+$ state.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2024

Detailed derivation of the $\mathbf{^3P_0}$ strong decay model applied to baryons

We provide an in-detail derivation through the $^3P_0$ pair creation model of the transition matrix for a baryon decaying into a meson-baryon system. The meson's analysis was conducted in Ref. [1] and we extend the same formalism to the baryon sector, focusing on the $Δ(1232)\to πN$ strong decay width because all hadrons involved in the reaction are very well established, the two hadrons in the final state are stable, avoiding further analysis, all quarks are light and so equivalent, and the decay width of the process is relatively well measured. Taking advantage of a Gaussian expansion method for the hadron's radial wave functions, the expression of the invariant matrix element can be related with the mean-square radii of hadrons involved in the decay. We use their experimental measures in such a way that only the strength of the quark-antiquark pair creation from the vacuum is a free parameter. This is then taken from our previous study of strong decay widths in the meson sector, obtaining a quite compatible result with experiment for the calculated $Δ(1232)\to πN$ decay width.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2024

An assessment of $\mathbfΥ$-states above $\mathbf{B\bar B}$-threshold using a constituent-quark-model based meson-meson coupled-channels framework

The $Υ(10753)$ state has been recently observed by the Belle and Belle~II collaborations with enough global significance to motivate an assessment of the high-energy spectrum usually predicted by any reasonable \emph{naïve} quark model. In the framework of a constituent quark model which satisfactorily describes a wide range of properties of conventional hadrons containing heavy quarks, the quark-antiquark and meson-meson degrees of freedom have been incorporated with the goal of elucidating the influence of open-bottom meson-meson thresholds into the $Υ$ states whose masses are within the energy range of the $Υ(10753)$'s mass. It is well known that such effects could be relevant enough as to generate dynamically new states and thus provide a plausible explanation of the nature of the $Υ(10753)$ state. In particular, we have performed a coupled-channels calculation in which the bare states $Υ(4S)$, $Υ(3D)$, $Υ(5S)$ and $Υ(4D)$ are considered together with the threshold channels $B\bar{B}$, $B\bar{B}^\ast$, $B^\ast \bar{B}^\ast$, $B_s\bar{B}_s$, $B_s\bar{B}_s^\ast$ and $B_s^\ast \bar{B}_s^\ast$. Among the results we have described, the following conclusions are of particular interest: (i) a richer complex spectrum is gained when thresholds are present and bare bound states are sufficiently non-relativistic; (ii) those poles obtained in the complex energy plane do not have to appear as simple peaks in the relevant cross sections; and (iii) the $Υ(10750)$ candidate is interpreted as a dressed hadronic resonance whose structure is an equally mixture of a conventional $b\bar b$ state and $B^\ast \bar B^\ast$ molecule.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2023

Unraveling the nature of the novel $\mathbf{T_{cs}}$ and $\mathbf{T_{c\bar s}}$ tetraquark candidates

Using proton-proton collisions at centre-of-mass energies $7$, $8$, and $13$ TeV, with a total integrated luminosity of $9\,\text{fb}^{-1}$, the LHCb collaboration has performed amplitude analyses of the $B^+\to D^+D^-K^+$, $B^+\to D^- D_s^+ π^+$ and $B^0\to \bar{D}^0 D_s^+ π^-$ decays, observing that new $T_{cs}$ and $T_{c\bar s}$ resonances are required in order to explain the experimental data. These signals could be the first observation of tetraquark candidates that do not contain a heavy quark-antiquark pair; in fact, they consist of four different flavours of quarks, one of which is a doubly charged open-charm state. We present herein an analysis of the $T_{cs}$ and $T_{c\bar s}$ states, which is an extension of our recently published study of similar $T_{cc}^+$ exotic candidates. Our theoretical framework is a constituent-quark-model-based coupled-channels calculation of $qq^\prime \bar s \bar c$ and $cq\bar s\bar q^{\prime}$ tetraquark sectors for $T_{cs}$ and $T_{c\bar s}$ structures, respectively. We explore the nature, and pole position, of the singularities that appear in the scattering matrix with spin-parity quantum numbers: $J^P=0^\pm$, $1^\mp$, and $2^\pm$. The constituent quark model has been widely used in the heavy quark sector, and thus all model parameters are already constrained from previous works. This makes our predictions robust and parameter-free. We find many singularities in the solution of various scattering-matrix problems which are either virtual states or resonances, but not bound states. Some of them fit well with the experimental observations of the spin-parity, mass and width of $T_{cs}$ and $T_{c\bar s}$ candidates, and thus tentative assignments are made; however, with caution, because the experimental Breit-Wigner parameters are related to the pole characteristics.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2022

Kaon spectrum revisited

The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) has recently approved a world-unique QCD facility in which an updated version of the external M2 beam line of the CERN SPS in conjunction with a universal spectrometer of the COMPASS experiment is used. One of its main goals is to use highly intense and energetic kaon beams to map out the complete spectrum of excited kaons with an unprecedented precision; having a broad impact not only on low-energy QCD phenomenology, but also on many high-energy particle processes where excited kaons appear, such as the study of CP violation in heavy-meson decays studied at LHCb and Belle~II. In support of the experimental effort, the kaon spectrum is computed herein using a constituent quark model which has been successfully applied to a wide range of hadronic observables, from light to heavy quark sectors, and thus the model parameters are completely constrained. The model's prediction can be used as a template against which to compare the already collected data and future experimental findings, in order to distinguish between conventional and exotic kaon states. We also compare our results with those available in the literature in order to provide some general statements, common to all calculations.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2022

Towards the discovery of novel $B_c$ states: radiative and hadronic transitions

The properties of the $B_c$-meson family ($c\bar b$) are still not well determined experimentally because the specific mechanisms of formation and decay remain poorly understood. Unlike heavy quarkonia, i.e. the hidden heavy quark-antiquark sectors of charmonium ($c\bar c$) and bottomonium ($b\bar b$), the $B_c$-mesons cannot annihilate into gluons and they are, consequently, more stable. The excited $B_c$ states, lying below the lowest strong-decay $BD$-threshold, can only undergo through radiative decays and hadronic transitions to the $B_c$ ground state, which then decays weakly. As a result of this, a rich spectrum of narrow excited states below the $BD$-threshold appear, whose total widths are two orders of magnitude smaller than those of the excited levels of charmonium and bottomonium. In a different article, we determined bottom-charmed meson masses using a non-relativistic constituent quark model which has been applied to a wide range of hadron physical observables, and thus the model parameters are completely constrained. Herein, continuing to our study of the $B_c$ sector, we calculate the relevant radiative decay widths and hadronic transition rates between $c\bar b$ states which are below $BD$-threshold. This shall provide the most promising signals for discovering excited $B_c$ states that are below the lowest strong-decay $BD$-threshold. Finally, our results are compared with other models to measure the reliability of the predictions and point out differences.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2018

Contribution of constituent quark model $c\bar{s}$ states to the dynamics of the $D^\ast_{s0}(2317)$ and $D_{s1}(2460)$ resonances

The masses of the $D^\ast_{s0}(2317)$ and $D_{s1}(2460)$ resonances lie below the $DK$ and $D^\ast K$ thresholds respectively, which contradicts the predictions of naive quark models and points out to non-negligible effects of the $D^{(\ast)}K$ loops in the dynamics of the even-parity scalar ($J^π=0^+$) and axial-vector ($J^π=1^+$) $c\bar s$ systems. Recent lattice QCD studies, incorporating the effects of the $D^{(\ast)}K$ channels, analyzed these spin-parity sectors and correctly described the $D^\ast_{s0}(2317)-D_{s1}(2460)$ mass splitting. Motivated by such works, we study the structure of the $D_{s0}^\ast(2317)$ and $D_{s1}(2460)$ resonances in the framework of an effective field theory consistent with heavy quark spin symmetry, and that incorporates the interplay between $D^{(\ast)}K$ meson-meson degrees of freedom and bare P-wave $c\bar s$ states predicted by constituent quark models. We extend the scheme to finite volumes and fit the strength of the coupling between both types of degrees of freedom to the available lattice levels, which we successfully describe. We finally estimate the size of the $D^{(\ast)}K$ two-meson components in the $D^\ast_{s0}(2317)$ and $D_{s1}(2460)$ resonances, and we conclude that these states have a predominantly hadronic-molecular structure, and that it should not be tried to accommodate these mesons within $c\bar{s}$ constituent quark model patterns.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2018

Heavy mesons in the Quark Model

Since the discovery of the $J/ψ$, the quark model was very successful in describing the spectrum and properties of heavy mesons including only $q\bar q$ components. However since 2003, with the discovery of the $X(3872)$, many states that can not be accommodated on the naive quark model have been discovered, and they made unavoidable to include higher Fock components on the heavy meson states. We will give an overview of the success of the quark model for heavy mesons and point some of the states that are likely to be more complicated structures such as meson-meson molecules.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2016

From $J/ψ$ to LHCb pentaquark

The original charmonium two-body problem, like the $c\bar c$ structure of the $J/ψ$ meson, has become more involved in the last few years with the discovery of new resonances such as the tentative molecular state $X(3872)$ or the possible pentaquark one $P_{c}(4380)^{+}$. We discuss herein how these exotic states (and others) can be described in a unified way adding higher Fock state components to the naive quark model picture. In particular, we present our theoretical results on the pentaquark states $P_{c}(4380)^{+}$ and $P_{c}(4450)^{+}$, and on the new charmonium-like resonances $X(4140)$, $X(4274)$, $X(4500)$ and $X(4700)$ that have been reported in $2016$ by the LHCb Collaboration.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2016

From $J/ψ$ to LHCb pentaquarks

The two exotic $P_c^+(4380)$ and $P_c^+(4450)$ discovered in $2015$ by the LHCb Collaboration, together with the four resonances $X(4140)$, $X(4274)$, $X(4500)$ and $X(4700)$, reported in $2016$ by the same collaboration, are described in a constituent quark model which has been able to explain the properties of charmonium states from the $J/ψ$ to the $X(3872)$. Using this model we found a $\bar DΣ_c^*$ bound state with $J^P=\frac{3}{2}^-$ that may be identified with the $P_c^+(4380)$. In the $\bar D^*Σ_c$ channel we found three possible candidates for the $P_c^+(4450)$ with $J^P=\frac{1}{2}^-$, $\frac{3}{2}^-$ and $\frac{3}{2}^+$ with almost degenerated energies. The $X(4140)$ resonance appears as a cusp in the $J/ψϕ$ channel due to the near coincidence of the $D_{s}^{\pm}D_{s}^{\ast\pm}$ and $J/ψϕ$ mass thresholds. The remaining three $X(4274)$, $X(4500)$ and $X(4700)$ resonances appear as conventional charmonium states with quantum numbers $3^{3}P_{1}$, $4^{3}P_{0}$ and $5^{3}P_{0}$, respectively; and whose masses and widths are slightly modified due to their coupling with the corresponding closest meson-meson thresholds.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2016

LHCb pentaquarks in constituent quark models

The recently discovered $P_c(4380)^+$ and $P_c(4450)^+$ states at LHCb have masses close to the $\bar DΣ_c^*$ and $\bar D^*Σ_c$ thresholds, respectively, which suggest that they may have significant meson-baryon molecular components. We analyze these states in the framework of a constituent quark model which has been applied to a wide range of hadronic observables, being the model parameters, therefore, completely constrained. The $P_c(4380)^+$ and $P_c(4450)^+$ are studied as molecular states composed by charmed baryons and open charm mesons. Several bound states with the proper binding energy are found in the $\bar DΣ_c^*$ and $\bar D^*Σ_c$ channels. We discuss the possible assignments of these states from their decay widths. Moreover, two more states are predicted, associated with the $\bar DΣ_c$ and $\bar D^* Σ_c^*$ thresholds.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2016

Partners of the $X(3872)$ and HQSS breaking

Since the discovery of the $X(3872)$ the study of heavy meson molecules has been the subject of many investigations. On the experimental side different experiments have looked for its spin partners and the bottom analogs. On the theoretical side different approaches have been used to understand this state. Some of them are EFT that impose HQSS and so they make predictions for the partners of the $X(3872)$, suggesting the existence of a $J^{PC}=2^{++}$ partner in the charm sector or $J^{PC}=1^{++}$ or $2^{++}$ analogs in the bottom. In our work, in order to understand the $X(3872)$, we use a Chiral quark model in which, due to the proximity to the $DD^*$ threshold, we include $c\bar c$ states coupled to $DD^*$ molecular components. In this coupled channel model the relative position of the bare $c\bar c$ states with two meson thresholds are very important. We have looked for the $X(3872)$ partners and we don't find a bound state in the $D^*D^*$ $J^{PC}=2^{++}$. In the bottom sector we find the opposite situation where the $B^*B^*$ with $J^{PC}=2^{++}$ is bounded while the $J^{PC}=1^{++}$ is not bounded. These results shows how the coupling with $c\bar c$ states can induced different results than those expected by HQSS. The reason is that this symmetry is worse in the open heavy meson sector than in the hidden heavy meson sector.

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