Quantum Physics Commons^™

An Estimate Of The Branching Fraction Of Tau -> Pi Eta 'Nu(Tau), Shmuel Nussinov, A. Soffer

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

We calculate the expected branching fraction of the second-class-current decay tau -> pi eta 'nu(tau), motivated by a recent experimental upper-limit determination of this quantity. The largest contribution to the branching fraction is due to the intermediate a(0)(980) scalar meson, assuming it is a (u) over bard state. Smaller contributions arise from a(0)(1450), rho(770), and rho(1450). Our calculated values are substantially below the experimental upper limit, and are smaller still if the a(0)(980) is a four-quark state, as often suggested. Thus, a precise measurement or tight upper limit has the potential to determine the nature of the a(0)(980), as well …