Transverse momentum spectra of $f_0(980)$ from coalescence model

Abstract

We use a coalescence model to generate $f_0$(980) particles for four configurations: $s\bar{s}$ meson, $u\bar{u}s\bar{s}$ tetraquark, $K^{+}{K}^{-}$ molecule and $u\bar{u}$ p-wave state. The phase-space information of the coalescing constituents is taken from a multi-phase transport (AMPT) simulation of proton-proton and proton-lead collisions at the LHC. It is shown that the transverse momentum spectra and production yields of $f_0(980)$ differ significantly among the configurations. It is suggested that the $p_T$ spectra of the $f_0(980)$ compared to those of other hadrons (such as pion) and the ratio of the $f_0(980)$ $p_T$ spectra in pPb over pp can be exploited to tell the configuration of the $f_0(980)$.