Mechanisms of the isospin-breaking decay $f_1(1285)\to f_0(980)\pi^0\to\pi^+\pi^-\pi^0$

TL;DR

This paper analyzes various mechanisms causing isospin-breaking in the decay of $f_1(1285)$ to three pions via $f_0(980)$, highlighting the role of $K\bar K$ loops and predicting a narrow resonance in the $\pi^+\pi^-$ spectrum.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive approach to describe the $K\bar K$ loop mechanism responsible for isospin breaking in $f_1(1285)$ decay.

Findings

Identification of mechanisms causing isospin breaking.

Prediction of a narrow resonance near $K\bar K$ thresholds.

Emphasis on the need for more precise experimental data.

Abstract

Estimated are the contributions of the following mechanisms responsible for the decay $f_1(1285)\to f_0(980)\pi^0\to\pi^+\pi^-\pi^0$: 1) the contribution of the $a^0_0(980)-f_0(980)$ mixing, $f_1(1285)\to a_0(980)\pi^0\to (K^+K^-+K^0\bar K^0)\pi^0\to f_0(980)\pi^0\to\pi^+\pi^-\pi^0$, 2) the contribution of the transition $f_1(1285)\to(K^+K^-+K^0\bar K^0)\pi^0\to f_0 (980)\pi^0\to\pi^+\pi^-\pi^0$, arising due to the pointlike decay $f_1 (1285)\to K\bar K\pi^0$, 3) the contribution of the transition $f_1(1285)\to(K^*\bar K+\bar K^*K)\to(K^+K^-+K^0\bar K^0)\pi^0\to f_0(980)\pi^0\to \pi^+\pi^-\pi^0$, where $K^*=K^*(892)$, and 4) the contribution of the transition $f_1(1285)\to(K^*_0\bar K+\bar K^*_0K)\to(K^+K^-+K^0\bar K^0)\pi^0\to f_0(980)\to\pi^+ \pi^-\pi^0$, where $K^*_0=K^*_0(800)$ (or $\kappa$) and $K^*_0(1430)$. These mechanisms break the conservation of the isospin due to the nonzero mass difference of the $K^+$ and $K^0$ mesons. They result in the appearance of the narrow resonance structure in the $\pi^+\pi^-$ mass spectrum in the region of the $K\bar K$ thresholds, with the width $\approx2m_{K^0}-2m_{K^+}\approx8$ MeV. The observation of such a structure in experiment is the direct indication on the $K\bar K$ loop mechanism of the breaking of the isotopic invariance. We point out that existing data should be more precise, and it is difficult to explain them using the single specific mechanism from those listed above. Taking the decay $f_1(1285)\to f_0(980)\pi^0 \to\pi^+\pi^-\pi^0$ as the example, we discuss the general approach to the description of the $K\bar K$ loop mechanism of the breaking of isotopic invariance.