Franck-Condon principle for heavy-quark hadron decays

Abstract

The Franck-Condon principle governing molecular electronic transitions is utilized to study heavy-quark hadron decays. This provides a direct assessment of the wavefunction of the parent hadron if the momentum distribution of the open flavor decay products is measured. Model-independent results include an experimental distinction between quarkonium and exotica (hybrids, tetraquarks...), an off plane correlator signature for tetraquarks and a direct probe of the sea quark orbital wavefunction relevant in the discussion of S-3(1) or P 3(0) decay mechanisms.