Amplitude analysis of the $χ_{c1} \to ηπ^+π^-$ decays

Abstract

Using $448.0 \times 10^6$~$ψ(3686)$ events collected with the BESIII detector, an amplitude analysis is performed for $ψ(3686)\toγχ_{c1}$, $χ_{c1}\toηπ^+π^-$ decays. The most dominant two-body structure observed is $a_0(980)^{\pm}π^{\mp}$; $a_0(980)^{\pm}\toηπ^{\pm}$. The $a_0(980)$ line shape is modeled using a dispersion relation, and a significant non-zero $a_0(980)$ coupling to the $η^{\prime}π$ channel is measured. We observe $χ_{c1}\to a_2(1700)π$ production for the first time, with a significance larger than 17$σ$. The production of mesons with exotic quantum numbers, $J^{PC}=1^{-+}$, is investigated, and upper limits for the branching fractions $χ_{c1}\to π_1(1400)^{\pm}π^{\mp}$, $χ_{c1}\to π_1(1600)^{\pm}π^{\mp}$, and $χ_{c1}\toπ_1(2015)^{\pm}π^{\mp}$, with subsequent $π_1(X)^{\pm} \to ηπ^{\pm}$ decay, are determined.

14 pages, 6 figures