Study of e$^+$e$^-$ $\rightarrow \text{p} \overline{\text{p}}\pi^0$ in the Vicinity of the $\psi\text{(3770)}$

TL;DR

This study measures the cross sections of the process $e^+e^- ightarrow par{p}\pi^0$ near the $ ext{psi}(3770)$ resonance, providing insights into its decay and production mechanisms relevant for future experiments.

Contribution

It presents the first measurement of the Born cross section of $e^+e^- ightarrow par{p}\pi^0$ near the $ ext{psi}(3770)$ and estimates the cross section for $par{p} ightarrow ext{psi}(3770)\pi^0$, considering interference effects.

Findings

The Born cross section of $ ext{psi}(3770) ightarrow par{p}\pi^0$ is less than 0.22 pb at 90% CL and 33.8 pb with uncertainties.

Two solutions with equal probability and 1.5$\sigma$ significance are found for the interference effects.

Estimated cross section for $par{p} ightarrow ext{psi}(3770)\pi^0$ is less than 0.79 nb at 90% CL and 122 nb at 5.26 GeV.

Abstract

The process $e^+e^-\rightarrow p\overline{p}\pi^0$ has been studied by analyzing data collected at $\sqrt{s}=3.773$ GeV, at $\sqrt{s}=3.650$ GeV, and during a $\psi(3770)$ line shape scan with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider. The Born cross section of $p \overline{p} \pi^0$ in the vicinity of the $\psi(3770)$ is measured and the Born cross section of $\psi(3770)\rightarrow p \overline{p} \pi^0$ is extracted considering interference between resonant and continuum production amplitudes. Two solutions with the same probability and a significance of 1.5$\sigma$ are found, and the Born cross section of $\psi(3770)\rightarrow p \overline{p} \pi^0$ is determined to be less than 0.22 pb at 90% confidence level and $33.8\pm1.8\pm2.1$ pb, respectively. Using the estimated cross section and a constant decay amplitude approximation, the cross section $\sigma(p\overline{p} \rightarrow \psi(3770) \pi^0)$ is calculated for the kinematic situation of the planned $\overline{\text{P}}\text{ANDA}$ experiment. The maximum cross section corresponding to the two solutions is expected to be less than $0.79$ nb at 90% confidence level and $122\pm10$ nb at a center of mass energy of 5.26 GeV.