Interpreting $Z_c(3900)$ and $Z_c(4025)/Z_c(4020)$ as charged tetraquark states

Abstract

In the framework of color flux-tube model with a four-body confinement potential, the lowest charged tetraquark states $[Qq][\bar{Q}'\bar{q}']~(Q=c,b,q=u,d,s)$ are studied by using the variational method, Gaussian expansion method. The results indicate that some compact resonance states can be formed, the states can not decay into two color singlet mesons $Q\bar{q}'$ and $\bar{Q}'q$ through the breakdown and recombination of color flux tubes but into $Q\bar{Q}'$ and $q\bar{q}'$. The four-body confinement potential is an crucial dynamical mechanism for the formation of states, The decay mechanism is similar to that of compound nucleus and therefore the states should be called "color confined, multi-quark resonance" states. The newly observed charged states $Z_c(3900)$ and $Z_c(4025)/Z_c(4020)$ can be accommodated in the color flux-tube model and can be interpreted as the $S$-wave tetraquark states $[cu][{\bar{c}\bar{d}}]$ with quantum numbers $I=1$ and $J=1$ and 2, respectively.