Search for new hadronic decays of hc and observation of hc → p(p)over-barη ( MAR 3, 2023 , 10.1007/JHEP03(2023)022 )

A search for the hadronic decays of the h(c) meson to the final states p (p) over bar pi(+)pi(-)pi(0) , pp eta , and pp pi 0 via the process psi (3686) -> pi(0)h(c) is performed using (4.48 +/- 0.03) x 10(8) psi (3686) events collected with the BESIII detector. The decay channel h(c) -> p (p) over bar eta is observed for the first time with a significance greater than 5 sigma and a branching fraction of (6.41 +/- 1.74 +/- 0.53 +/- 1.00) x 10(-4) , where the uncertainties are statistical, systematic, and that from the branching fraction of psi (3686) -> pi(0)h(c). Strong evidence for the decay h(c) -> p (p) over bar pi(+)pi(-)pi(0) is found with a significance of 4.9 sigma and a branching fraction of (3.84 +/- 0.83 +/- 0.69 +/- 0.58) x 10(-3). The significances include systematic uncertainties. No clear signal of the decay h(c) -> p (p) over bar pi(0) is found, and an upper limit of 6.59 x 10(-4) on its branching fraction is set at the 90% confidence level.

Automated summary

A search for the hadronic decays of the h(c) meson to several final states is conducted using the BESIII detector. The decay channels h(c) -> p(p) over bar eta and h(c) -> p(p) over bar pi(+)pi(-)pi(0) are observed with significant results. No clear signal for the decay h(c) -> p(p) over bar pi(0) is found, and an upper limit on its branching fraction is set.