Filter for strangeness in J^{PC} exotic four-quark states

Symmetrization selection rules for the decay of four–quark states to two J=0 mesons are analysed in a non – field theoretic context with isospin symmetry. The OZI allowed decay of an isoscalar exotic state to or is only allowed for four–quark components of the state containing one pair, providing a filter for strangeness content in these states. Decays of four–quark states are narrower than otherwise expected. If the experimentally observed enhancement in is resonant, it is qualitatively in agreement with being a four–quark state. Received: 10 May 2001 / Revised version: 15 August 2001 / Published online: 21 September 2001