The ρ-ω splitting in constituent quark models

In this Letter we present a solution to describe simultaneously the light isoscalar and isovector vector mesons in constituent quark models. In Ref. [J. Vijande, F. Fernandez, A. Valcarce, J. Phys. G 31 (2005) 481] the qq-bar spectrum was studied in a generalized constituent quark model constrained by the NN phenomenology and the baryon spectrum. An overall good fit to the available experimental data was obtained. A major problem of this description was the relative position of the vector ω and ρ mesons. The present results improve the description of the isoscalar meson spectroscopy. They should serve as a step forward in distinguishing conventional quark model mesons from exotic states.