Physicists map exotic particle decays with new precision, opening doors to physics discovery
Chinese researchers have measured how rare subatomic particles break apart with unprecedented accuracy, revealing decay patterns never before directly observed. The findings could help physicists hunt for signs of unknown particles that might reshape our understanding of matter—a pursuit with long-term implications for technology development.
Originaltitel: Measurements of the branching fractions of 𝜒𝑐𝐽→𝜙𝜙𝜂, 𝜙𝜙𝜂′ and 𝜙𝐾+𝐾−𝜂
<p>Using a sample of (2712.4 +/- 14.3) x 10(6) psi(3686) events collected by the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider, we measure the branching fractions of the decays chi(cJ) -> phi phi eta, phi phi eta ', and phi K+K-eta. (J = 0, 1, 2). The obtained branching fractions are B(chi(c0) )= (7.40 +/- 0.23 +/- 0.55) x 10(-4), B(chi(c1) -> phi phi eta) = (3.33 +/- 0.14 +/- 0.25) x 10(-4), B(chi(c2) -> phi phi eta) = (5.46 +/- 0.17 +/- 0.40) x 10(-4), B(chi(c0) -> phi phi eta ') = (2.96 +/- 0.23 +/- 0.29) x 10(-4), B(chi(c1) -> phi phi eta ') = (0.69 +/- 0.10 +/- 0.08) x 10(-4), B(chi(c2)-> phi phi eta) = (0.65 +/- 0.09 +/- 0.07) x 10(-4), B(chi(c0) -> phi K+K-eta) = (1.23 +/- 0.08 +/- 0.10) x 10(-4), B(chi(c1) -> phi K+K-eta) = (1.00 +/- 0.07 +/- 0.07) x 10(-4), and B(chi(c2)-> phi K+K-eta) = (1.82 +/- 0.09 +/- 0.14) x 10(-4), where K+K- is not from the decay of a phi meson, the first uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic. The branching fractions of chi(cJ) -> phi phi eta are measured with precision improved by factors of 1.5-1.9, and those of chi(cJ) -> phi phi eta ' and phi K+K-eta are measured for the first time.</p>