Confirmation of the 1-+ meson exotics in the ηπ0 system

The exclusive reaction pi(-)p -> eta pi(0)n, eta -> pi(+)pi(-)pi(0) at 18 GeV/c has been studied with a partial wave analysis on a sample of 23 492 eta pi(0)n events from BNL experiment E852. A mass-dependent fit is consistent with a resonant hypothesis for the P+ wave, thus providing evidence for a neutral exotic meson with J(PC) = 1(-+), a mass of 1257 +/- 20 +/- 25 MeV/c(2), and a width of 354 +/- 64 +/- 60 MeV/c(2). New interpretations of the meson exotics in neutral eta pi(0) system observed in E852 and Crystal Barrel experiments are discussed. (C) 2007 Published by Elsevier B.V.