Dibaryons: Molecular versus compact hexaquarks *

Abstract

Abstract Hexaquarks constitute a natural extension of complex quark systems, just as tetra- and pentaquarks do. To this end, the current status of in both experiment and theory is reviewed. Recent high-precision measurements in the nucleon-nucleon channel and analyses thereof have established as an indisputable resonance in the long-sought dibaryon channel. Important features of this state are its narrow width and deep binding relative to the threshold. Its decay branchings favor theoretical calculations predicting a compact hexaquark nature of this state. We review the current status of experimental and theoretical studies on as well as new physics aspects it may bring in future. In addition, we review the situation at the and thresholds, where evidence for a number of resonances of presumably molecular nature has been found – similar to the situation in charmed and beauty sectors. Finally, we briefly discuss the situation of dibaryon searches in the flavored quark sectors.