Determination of the structure of the $X(3872)$ in $\bar{p}A$ collisions

Abstract

Currently, the structure of the $X(3872)$ meson is unknown. Different competing models of the $c\bar{c}$ exotic state $X(3872)$ exist, including the possibilities that this state is either a mesonic molecule with dominating $D^0{\bar{D}}^{\ast 0}+c.c.$ composition, a $c\bar{c}q\bar{q}$ tetraquark, or a $c\bar{c}$-gluon hybrid state. It is expected that the $X(3872)$ state is rather strongly coupled to the $\bar{p}p$ channel and, therefore, can be produced in $\bar{p}p$ and $\bar{p}A$ collisions at PANDA. We propose to test the hypothetical molecular structure of $X(3872)$ by studying the $D$ or ${\bar{D}}^{\ast }$ stripping reactions on a nuclear residue.

Comments: 19 pages, 8 figures; version accepted in PLB