Role of the short-range dynamics in the formation of D(*)D¯(*) and B(*)B¯(*) hadronic molecules

We investigate potential hadronic molecular states in the D(*)D¯(*) and B(*)B¯* systems using light meson exchange interactions. Our analysis focuses on coupled-channel systems with spin-parity quantum numbers JPC=0++, 1+±, and 2++, examining how the δ(r) potential affects states near threshold. Using coupled-channel analysis, we reproduce the X(3872) mass with a given cutoff for the (I)JPC=(0)1++ state, finding a minimal impact from the δ(r) term. At this cutoff, both the (0)0++ state near the DD¯ threshold and the (0)1+− state near the DD¯* threshold show less sensitivity to the δ(r) term compared to the three states–(0)0++, (0)1+−, and (0)2++–near the D*D¯* threshold. As anticipated, the B(*)B¯* systems exhibit similar behavior but with stronger binding due to their larger reduced mass. These findings suggest promising directions for future experimental searches, particularly in the isoscalar sector, which could substantially advance our understanding of exotic tetraquark states. Published by the American Physical Society 2025