Vector Charmonium Meson-Hybrid Mixing: a Field Theoretical Analysis

Abstract

Quantum chromodynamics (QCD) is the quantum field theory describing strong interactions. Hybrids in QCD, which are bound states consisting of a charm and an anticharm quark with a constituent gluon, have been theorized for some time. In this thesis we begin to explore the idea that perhaps these particles exist as quantum mechanical superpositions of hybrid and pure mesonic states (which are bound states consisting of a quark and an antiquark). In particular, we will be interested in vector charmonium (charm-anticharm) meson-hybrid mixing. Here we do a field theoretical analysis of charmonium meson-hybrid mixing in the JPC = 1−− channel; the two point cross-correlator has been calculated to leading order in the strong coupling (αs). We include the perturbative, four dimensional and six dimensional condensate contributions. The perturbative contribution was found to contain non-polynomial divergences which were addressed through the introduction of operator mixing. The results of this calculation are presented in a form that is ready for a QCD sum rules analysis.