Including tetraquark operators in the low-lying scalar meson sectors in lattice QCD

Abstract

Lattice QCD allows us to probe the low-lying hadron spectrum in finite-volume using a basis of single- and multi-hadron interpolating operators. Here we examine the effect of including tetraquark operators on the spectrum in the scalar meson sectors containing the $K_0^*(700)$ ($\kappa$) and the $a_0(980)$ in $N_f = 2 + 1$ QCD, with $m_\pi \approx 230$ MeV. Preliminary results of additional finite-volume states found using tetraquark operators are shown, and possible implications of these states are discussed.