Hybrid and Conventional Mesons in the Flux Tube Model: Numerical Studies and their Phenomenological Implications

We present results from analytical and numerical studies of a flux tube model of hybrid mesons. Our numerical results use a Hamiltonian Monte Carlo algorithm and so improve on previous analytical treatments, which assumed small flux tube oscillations and an adiabatic separation of quark and flux tube motion. We find that the small oscillation approximation is inappropriate for typical hadrons and that the hybrid mass is underestimated by the adiabatic approximation. For physical parameters in the ``one-bead" flux tube model we estimate the lightest hybrid masses (${}_\Lambda L = {}_1 P$ states) to be 1.8-1.9~GeV for $u\bar u$ hybrids, 2.1-2.2~GeV for $s\bar s$ and 4.1-4.2~GeV for $c\bar c$. We also determine masses of conventional $q\bar q$ mesons with $L=0$ to $L=3$ in this model, and confirm good agreement with experimental $J$-averaged multiplet masses. Mass estimates are also given for hybrids with higher orbital and flux-tube excitations. The gap from the lightest hybrid level (${}_1P$) to the first hybrid orbital excitation (${}_1D$) is predicted to be $\approx 0.4$~GeV for light quarks $(q=u,d)$ and $\approx 0.3$~GeV for $q=c$. Both ${}_1P$ and ${}_1D$ hybrid multiplets contain the exotics $1^{-+}$ and $2^{+-}$; in addition the ${}_1P$ has a $0^{+-}$ and the ${}_1D$ contains a $3^{-+}$. Hybrid mesons with doubly-excited flux tubes are also considered. The implications of our results for spectroscopy are discussed, with emphasis on charmonium hybrids, which may be accessible at facilities such as BEPC, KEK, a Tau-Charm Factory, and in $\psi$ production at hadron colliders.