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Meson mass splittings in unquenched quark models (EEF70)

General results are obtained for meson mass splittings and mixings in unquenched (coupled-channel) quark models. Theorems derived previously in perturbation theory are generalised to the full coupled-channel system. A new formula is obtained for the mass splittings of physical states in terms of the splittings of the valence states. The S-wave hyperfine splitting decreases due to unquenching, but its relation to the vector $e^+e^-$ width is unchanged; this yields a prediction for the missing $η_b(3S)$. The ordinary (quenched) quark model result that the P-wave hyperfine splitting vanishes also survives unquenching. A ratio of mass splittings used to discriminate quarkonium potential models is scarcely affected by unquenching.