Four-quark bound states

In the framework of simple non-relativistic potential models, we examine the system consisting of two quarks and two antiquarks with equal or unequal masses. We search for possible bound states below the threshold for the spontaneous dissociation into two mesons. We solve the four body problem by empirical or systematic variational methods and we include explicitly the virtual meson-meson components of the wave function. With standard twobody potentials, there is no proliferation of multiquarks. With unequal quark masses, we obtain however exotic \(\left( {\bar Q\bar Qqq} \right)\) bound states with a baryonic antidiquark-quark-quark structure very analogous to the heavy flavoured (Q′qq) baryons.