Study of e$^+$e$^-$ $\rightarrow \text{p} \overline{\text{p}}π^0$ in the Vicinity of the $ψ\text{(3770)}$

Abstract

The process $e^+e^-\rightarrow p\overline{p}π^0$ has been studied by analyzing data collected at $\sqrt{s}=3.773$ GeV, at $\sqrt{s}=3.650$ GeV, and during a $ψ(3770)$ line shape scan with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider. The Born cross section of $p \overline{p} π^0$ in the vicinity of the $ψ(3770)$ is measured and the Born cross section of $ψ(3770)\rightarrow p \overline{p} π^0$ is extracted considering interference between resonant and continuum production amplitudes. Two solutions with the same probability and a significance of 1.5$σ$ are found, and the Born cross section of $ψ(3770)\rightarrow p \overline{p} π^0$ is determined to be less than 0.22 pb at 90% confidence level and $33.8\pm1.8\pm2.1$ pb, respectively. Using the estimated cross section and a constant decay amplitude approximation, the cross section $σ(p\overline{p} \rightarrow ψ(3770) π^0)$ is calculated for the kinematic situation of the planned $\overline{\text{P}}\text{ANDA}$ experiment. The maximum cross section corresponding to the two solutions is expected to be less than $0.79$ nb at 90% confidence level and $122\pm10$ nb at a center of mass energy of 5.26 GeV.