Abstract: We study theoretically the effects of finite volume for pi pi scattering in order to extract physical observables for infinite volume from lattice QCD. We compare three different approaches for pi pi scattering (lowest order Bethe-Salpeter approach, N/D and inverse amplitude methods) with the aim of studying the effects of the finite size of the box in the potential of the different theories, specially the left-hand cut contribution through loops in the crossed t, u-channels. We quantify the error made by neglecting these effects in usual extractions of physical observables from lattice ()CD spectrum. We conclude that for pi pi phase-shifts in the scalar-isoscalar channel up to 800 MeV this effect is negligible for box sizes bigger than 2,5m(pi)(-1) and of the order of 5% at around 1.5 – 2m(pi)(-1). For isospin 2 the finite size effects can reach up to 10% for that energy. We also quantify the error made when using the standard Luscher method to extract physical observables from lattice QCD, which is widely used in the literature but is an approximation of the one used in the present work.

Abstract: By solving the Muskhelishvili-Omnes integral equations, the scalar form factors of the semileptonic heavy meson decays D -> pi(l) over bar nu(l), D -> (K) over bar(l) over bar nu(l), (K) over bar -> pi(l) over bar nu(l) and (B) over bar (s) -> Kl (nu) over bar (l) are simultaneously studied. As input, we employ unitarized heavy meson-Goldstone boson chiral coupled-channel amplitudes for the energy regions not far from thresholds, while, at high energies, adequate asymptotic conditions are imposed. The scalar form factors are expressed in terms of Omn\`es matrices multiplied by vector polynomials, which contain some undetermined dispersive subtraction constants. We make use of heavy quark and chiral symmetries to constrain these constants, which are fitted to lattice QCD results both in the charm and the bottom sectors, and in this latter sector to the light-cone sum rule predictions close to q(2)=0 as well. We find a good simultaneous description of the scalar form factors for the four semileptonic decay reactions. From this combined fit, and taking advantage that scalar and vector form factors are equal at q(2)=0, we obtain |V-cd| = 0.244 +/- 0.022, |V-cs| = 0.945 +/- 0.041 and |V-ub| = (4.3 +/- 0.7)x10(-3) for the involved Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) matrix elements. In addition, we predict the following vector form factors at q(2) = 0: |f(+)(D ->eta)(0)| = 0.01 +/- 0.05, |f(+)(Ds ->eta)(0)| = 0.50 +/- 0.08, |f(+)(Ds ->eta)(0)| = 0.73 +/- 0.03 and|f(+)((B) over bar ->eta)(0)| = 0.82 +/- 0.08, which might serve as alternatives to determine the CKM elements when experimental measurements of the corresponding differential decay rates become available. Finally, we predict the different form factors above the q(2)-regions accessible in the semileptonic decays, up to moderate energies amenable to be described using the unitarized coupled-channel chiral approach.

Abstract: The production of the X (3872) as a hadronic molecule in hadron colliders is clarified. We show that the conclusion of Bignamini et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 103 (2009) 162001, that the production of the X(3872) at high pT implies a non-molecular structure, does not hold. In particular, using the well understood properties of the deuteron wave function as an example, we identify the relevant scales in the production process.

Abstract: The discovery of the D*(s0)(2317) and D-s1(2460) resonances in the charmed-strange meson spectra revealed that formerly successful constituent quark models lose predictability in the vicinity of two-meson thresholds. The emergence of non-negligible effects due to meson loops requires an explicit evaluation of the interplay between Q (q) over bar and (Q (q) over bar)(q (q) over bar) Fock components. In contrast to the c (s) over bar sector, there is no experimental evidence of J(P) = 0(+), 1(+) bottom-strange states yet. Motivated by recent lattice studies, in this work the heavy-quark partners of the D*(s0)(2317) and D-s1(2460) states are analyzed within a heavy meson chiral unitary scheme. As a novelty, the coupling between the constituent quark-model P-wave (B) over bar (s) scalar and axial mesons and the (B) over bar (()*()) K channels is incorporated employing an effective interaction, consistent with heavy-quark spin symmetry, constrained by the lattice energy levels.

Abstract: The so far only known charmed non-strange scalar meson is dubbed as D-0(*)(2400) in the Review of Particle Physics. We show, within the framework of unitarized chiral perturbation theory, that there are in fact two (I = 1/2, J(P) = 0(+)) poles in the region of the D-0(*)( 2400) in the coupled-channel D pi, D eta and D-s (K) over bar scattering amplitudes. With all the parameters previously fixed, we predict the energy levels for the coupled-channel system in a finite volume, and find that they agree remarkably well with recent lattice QCD calculations. This successful description of the lattice data is regarded as a strong evidence for the two-pole structure of the D-0(*)( 2400). With the physical quark masses, the poles are located at (2105(-8)(+6) – i102(-12)(+10)) MeV and (2451(-26)(+36) – i134(-8)(+7)) MeV, with the largest couplings to the D pi and D-s (K) over bar channels, respectively. Since the higher pole is close to the D-s (K) over bar threshold, we expect it to show up as a threshold enhancement in the D-s (K) over bar invariant mass distribution. This could be checked by high-statistic data in future experiments. We also show that the lower pole belongs to the same SU(3) multiplet as the D-s0(*)(2317) state. Predictions for partners in the bottom sector are also given.