Spectrum of $$J {PC} = 0 {\pm \pm }$$ J PC = 0 ± ± gluonic hidden-charm tetraquark states

Abstract We investigate gluonic hidden-charm tetraquark states composed of two valence quarks, two valence antiquarks and an explicit valence gluon. In the color configuration $$[\bar{3}_c]_{c q}\otimes [8_c]_{G}\otimes [3_c]_{\bar{c}\bar{q}}$$ [ 3 ¯ c ] cq ⊗ [ 8 c ] G ⊗ [ 3 c ] c ¯ q ¯ , a complete set of eight interpolating currents is constructed for states with quantum numbers $$^{PC}=0^{++}$$ PC = 0 + + , $$0^{-+},$$ 0 - + , $$0^{-}{-}$$ 0 - - , and $$0^{+-}$$ 0 + - . The corresponding mass spectra are systematically analysed within the QCD sum rule framework, including nonperturbative condensate contributions up to dimension eight. Our numerical analysis indicates the possible existence of six gluonic hidden-charm tetraquark states exhibiting stable behaviour in the adopted Borel windows. By replacing the charm quark with the bottom quark, masses for the corresponding hidden-bottom partners are also estimated. Possible production mechanisms and dominant decay channels are discussed, providing phenomenological guidance for experimental searches. These predicted states may be accessible at current and forthcoming facilities, including Belle II, PANDA, SuperB and LHCb, and thus offer an opportunity to probe explicit gluonic degrees of freedom in multiquark systems and deepen our understanding of nonperturbative QCD.