Search for a dark vector gauge boson decaying to $π^+ π^-$ using $η\rightarrow π^+π^- γ$ decays

Abstract

We report a search for a dark vector gauge boson $U^\prime$ that couples to quarks in the decay chain $D^{*+} \to D^0 π^+, D^0 \to K^0_S η, η\to U^\prime γ$, $U^\prime \to π^+ π^-$. No signal is found and we set a mass-dependent limit on the baryonic fine structure constant of $10^{-3} - 10^{-2}$ in the $U^\prime$ mass range of 290 to 520 MeV/$c^2$. This analysis is based on a data sample of 976 fb$^{-1}$ collected by the Belle experiment at the KEKB asymmetric-energy $e^+e^-$ collider.

6 pages, 4 figures