Abstract: A review is presented of the Hall-Post inequalities that give lower-bounds to the ground-state energy of quantum systems in terms of energies of smaller systems. New applications are given for systems experiencing both a static source and inner interactions, as well as for hydrogen-like molecules and for tetraquarks in some quark models. In the latter case, the Hall-Post inequalities constrain the possibility of deeply-bound exotic mesons below the threshold for dissociation into two quark-antiquark mesons. We also emphasize the usefulness of the Hall-Post bounds in terms of 3-body energies when some 2-body subsystems are ill defined or do not support any bound state.

Abstract: We review our recent work about the stability of strange few-body systems containing N's, Lambda's, and Xi's. We make use of local central Yukawa-type Malfliet-Tjon interactions reproducing the low-energy parameters and phase shifts of the nucleon-nucleon system and the latest updates of the hyperon-nucleon and hyperon-hyperon ESCO8c Nijmegen potentials. We solve the three-and four-body bound-state problems by means of Faddeev equations and a generalized Gaussian variational method, respectively. The hypertriton, Lambda np(I)J(P) = (1/2)1/2(+), is bound by 144 keV; the recently discussed Lambda nn (I)J(P) = (1/2)1/2(+) system is unbound, as well as the Lambda Lambda nn (I)J(P) = (1)0(+) system, being just above threshold. Our results indicate that the Xi NN, Xi Xi N and Xi Xi NN systems with maximal isospin might be bound.

Abstract: We discuss the stability of tetraquark systems with two different masses. After some reminders about the stability of very asymmetric QQ (q) over bar(q) over bar tetraquarks, we demonstrate that in the all-heavy limit q -> Q, the system becomes unstable for standard color-additive models. We also analyze the consequences of symmetry breaking for Qq (Q) over bar(q) over bar configurations: we find a kind of metastability between the lowest threshold Q (Q) over bar + q (q) over bar and the highest one, Q (q) over bar + (Q) over barq, and we calculate the width of the resonance. Our results are consistent with the experimental observation of narrow hadrons lying well above their lowest decay threshold.

Abstract: We review the status as regards to the existence of three- and four-body bound states made of neutrons and Lambda hyperons. For interesting cases, the coupling to neutral baryonic systems made of charged particles of different strangeness has been addressed. There are strong arguments showing that the Lambda nn system has no bound states. Lambda Lambda nn strong stable states are not favored by our current knowledge of the strangeness -1 and -2 baryon-baryon interactions. However, a possible Xi(-) t quasibound state decaying to Lambda Lambda nn might exist in nature. Similarly, there is a broad agreement about the nonexistence of Lambda Lambda n bound states. However, the coupling to Xi NN states opens the door to a resonance above the Lambda Lambda n threshold.

Abstract: A large number of new states have been reported during the last few years in charmonium spectroscopy above the charmed meson production threshold. They have been called X's, Y's, and Z's. We reflect on the influence of thresholds on heavy meson spectroscopy comparing different flavor sectors and quantum numbers. The validity of a quark-model picture above open-flavor thresholds would severely restrict the number of channels that may lodge meson-meson molecules.