Calculation of hyperfine splitting in mesons using configuration interaction approach

The spin - spin mass splitting of light, heavy and mixed mesons are described within a good accuracy in the potential model with screened potential. We conclude that the long - distance part of the potential cannot be pure scalar and that a vector - scalar mixture is favoured. With the same parameters which gives correct average mass spectrum excellent spin - spin splittings of heavy quarkonia is obtained. The results are obtained by going beyond usually used perturbation method, namely using configuration interaction approach.