The two-body open charm decays of $Z^+(4430)$

TL;DR

This paper investigates the decay mechanisms of the $Z^+(4430)$ particle, comparing molecular and tetraquark models, and suggests experimental searches to distinguish these theoretical interpretations.

Contribution

It analyzes the decay modes of $Z^+(4430)$ under different structural hypotheses, highlighting how decay patterns can differentiate between molecular and tetraquark states.

Findings

Decay modes are suppressed if $Z^+(4430)$ is a molecular state.

Decay modes are prominent if $Z^+(4430)$ is a tetraquark.

Experimental searches can distinguish between models.

Abstract

The two-body open charm decays $Z^+(4430)\to D^{+}\bar{D}^{*0}, D^{*+}\bar{D}^{0}, D^{*+}\bar{D}^{*0}$ occur through the re-scattering mechanism and their branching ratios are strongly suppressed if $Z^+(4430)$ is a $D_1\bar D^*$ molecular state. In contrast, $Z^+(4430)$ falls apart into these modes easily with large phase space and they become the main decay modes if $Z^+(4430)$ is a tetraquark state. Experimental search of these two-body open charm modes and the hidden charm mode $\chi_{cJ}\rho$ will help distinguish different theoretical schemes.