Theory of Higher Meson States

The problem of classifying higher meson states with respect to the product

U (6) \times U (6) \times O (3)

of the well-known hadron rest-symmetry group

U (6) \times U (6)

and of the

O (3)

group generated by orbital angular momentum is investigated. It is shown that in the context of

U (6) \times U (6) \times O (3)

symmetry, the total-cross-section relations

σ (K^{+} p) - σ (K^{+} n) = σ (pp) - σ (pn) = 0

require the

A_{2}

meson and therefore the whole nonet of observed

2^{+}

mesons to belong to the representation (6,

\bar{6}

L = 1

) of the group

U (6) \times U (6) \times O (3)

. The exchange degeneracy of the

A_{2}

and

ρ

Regge trajectories [

α_{ρ} (t) = α_{A_{2}} (t)

] and the apparently linear shape of

α_{ρ} (t)

are used to correlate the couplings of

L = 0

and

L = 1

mesons to hadrons. The masses (and some widths) of higher meson states on the

ρ - A_{2}

trajectory and of their unitary partners are calculated. Their possible identification with the

R

S

T

, and

U

mesons is suggested.

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