Importance of closed quark loops for lattice QCD studies of tetraquarks

Abstract

To investigate the light scalar tetraquark candidate $a_0(980)$ (quantum numbers $J^P =0^+$), a correlation matrix including a variety of two- and four-quark interpolating operators has to be computed. We discuss efficient techniques to compute the elements of this correlation matrix, in particular diagrams with closed quark loops. Furthermore, we present evidence that such diagrams are not negligible given our precision, and their contribution is essential to obtain physically meaningful results. In particular, we find indications of the existence of an "additional" state around the two-particle thresholds of $K+ \bar K$ and $\eta +\pi$, which could correspond to the $a_0(980)$ meson.