RELATIVISTIC MESON SPECTROSCOPY AND IN-MEDIUM EFFECTS

We extend our earlier model of q $($) over bar$$ q mesons using relati vistic quasipotential (QP) wave equations to include open-flavor state s and running quark-gluon coupling effects. Global fits to meson spect ra are achieved with rms deviations from experiment of 43-50 MeV. We e xamine in-medium effects through their influence on the confining inte raction and predict the confining strength at which the masses of cert ain mesons fall below the threshold of their dominant decay channel.