Spectrum of the molecular hexaquarks

Abstract

We investigate the mass spectra of molecular-type hexaquark states in the dibaryon systems. These systems are composed of the charmed baryons $[\Sigma_c^{(\ast)}$, $\Xi_c^{(\prime,\ast)}]$, doubly charmed baryons $[\Xi_{cc}^{(\ast)}]$, and hyperons $[\Sigma^{(\ast)}$, $\Xi^{(\ast)}]$. We consider all possible combinations of particle-particle and particle-antiparticle pairs, including the S-wave spin multiplets in each combination. We establish the underlying connections among the molecular tetraquarks, pentaquarks, and hexaquarks with the effective quark-level interactions. We find that the existence of molecular states in $DD^\ast$, $D\bar{D}^\ast$, and $\Sigma_c\bar{D}^{(\ast)}$ systems leads to the emergence of a large number of deuteron-like hexaquarks in the heavy flavor sectors. Currently, there have been several experimental candidates for molecular tetraquarks and pentaquarks. The experimental search for near-threshold hexaquarks will further advance the establishment of the underlying dynamical picture of hadronic molecules and deepen our understanding of the role of spin-flavor symmetry in near-threshold residual strong interactions.