Hybrid meson production by electromagnetic and weak interactions in a flux-tube simulation of lattice QCD

Abstract

We calculate rates for hybrid meson production by electromagnetic and weak interactions in the flux-tube model. Applications include photo and electroproduction at Jefferson Laboratory and HERA, and the production of light strange and charmed hybrids in the weak decays of heavy flavours. Photoproduction of some light hybrids is predicted to be prominent in charge exchange reactions, $\gamma p \to n \cal{H}$ and accessible in $\gamma p \to p \cal{H}$. Production of light or charmed hybrids in $B$ and $D$ decays may be feasible with high statistics. Photoproduction of the axial hybrid meson is predicted to be large courtesy of $\pi$ exchange, and its strange counterpart is predicted in $B \to \psi K_H(1^+)$ with $b.r. \sim 10^{-4}$. Production rates for exotic hybrid candidates $1^{-+};(0,2)^{+-}$ are given special attention. Selection rules that can help to distinguish between hybrid and conventional states with the same $J^{PC}$ are noted.