$T_{cc}^+$ decays: Differential spectra and two-body final states

Abstract

The recently discovered tetraquark, $T_{cc}^+$, has quark content $cc\bar{u}\bar{d}$ and a mass that lies just below open charm thresholds. Hence it is reasonable to expect the state to have a significant molecular component. We calculate the decay of the $T_{cc}^+$ in a molecular interpretation using effective field theory. In addition we calculate differential spectra as a function of the invariant mass of the final state charm meson pair. These are in good agreement with spectra measured by LHCb. We also point out that if shallow bound states of two pseudoscalar charm mesons exist, then two-body decays to those bound states and a single pion or photon can significantly enhance the width of the $T_{cc}^+$.