Determination of the X(3872) Meson Quantum Numbers

The quantum numbers of the X(3872) meson are determined to be J(PC) = 1(++) based on angular correlations in B+ -> X(3872)K+ decays, where X(3872) -> pi(+) pi(-) j/psi and J/psi -> pi(+) mu(-). The data correspond to 1.0 fb(-1) of pp collisions collected by the LHCb detector. The only alternative assignment allowed by previous measurements J(PC) = 2(-+) is rejected with a confidence level equivalent to more than 8 Gaussian standard deviations using a likelihood-ratio test in the full angular phase space. This result favors exotic explanations of the X(3872) state.

LHCb Collaboration Oyanguren Campos, Arantza Ruiz Valls, Pablo 2013 Determination of the X(3872) Meson Quantum Numbers Physical Review Letters 110 22 222001 - 1 222001 - 8