Semi-inclusive electroproduction of hidden-charm and double-charm hadronic molecules

Abstract

The semi-inclusive electroproduction of exotic hadrons, including the $T_{cc}$, $P_{cs}$, and hidden-charm baryon-antibaryon states, is explored under the assumption that they are $S$-wave hadronic molecules of a pair of charmed hadrons. We employ the Monte Carlo event generator Pythia to produce the hadron pairs and then bind them together to form hadronic molecules. With the use of such a production mechanism, the semi-inclusive electroproduction rates are estimated at the order-of-magnitude level. Our results indicate that a larger number of $P_{cs}$ states and $\Lambda_c\bar{\Lambda}_c$ molecules can be produced at the proposed electron-ion colliders in China (EicC) and in the US (EIC). The results also suggest that the $T_{cc}$ states and other hidden-charm baryon-antibaryon states can be searched for at EIC. Besides, the potential 24-GeV upgrade of the Continuous Beam Accelerator Facility at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility can play an important role in the search for the hidden-charm tetraquark and pentaquark states due to its high luminosity.