Subprocesses $\rho(770,1450)\to K\bar{K}$ for the three-body hadronic $D$ meson decays

TL;DR

This paper develops a theoretical framework to analyze the contributions of $ ho(770,1450)$ subprocesses in three-body $D$ meson decays, predicting small but observable effects in Dalitz plot analyses based on flavor $SU(3)$ symmetry.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach combining electromagnetic form factors and flavor symmetry to study subprocess contributions in $D$ decays, including virtual effects of $ ho$ resonances.

Findings

Virtual $ ho(770)$ contributions are generally small due to phase space and coupling limitations.

Predicted branching fractions for specific decay channels are around 1.8% of total three-body decay rates.

Some subprocesses like $ ho(1450)^+$ decays can provide virtual contributions in certain decays.

Abstract

We construct the theoretical framework for quasi-two-body $D$ meson decays with the help of pion and kaon electromagnetic form factors, and with which we study the contributions of the subprocesses $\rho(770,1450)\to K\bar{K}$ for the three-body $D$ decays within the flavour $SU(3)$ symmetry. Because of the limitations imposed by phase space and strong coupling, the contributions for kaon pair from the virtual bound state $\rho(770)$ are channel-dependent and generally small for the concerned three-body $D$ decays. But some quasi-two-body processes could still be observed in the Dalitz plot analyses for related decays, such as $D^0 \to K^-\rho(770)^+ \to K^- K^+K_S^0$ and $D^+ \to K_S^0\rho(770)^+ \to K_S^0 K^+K_S^0$, they are predicted to have the branching fractions $\mathcal{B}=(0.82\pm0.04)\times 10^{-4}$ and $\mathcal{B}=0.47^{+0.05}_{-0.03}\times 10^{-4}$, which are $(1.86\pm0.16)\%$ and $(1.84^{+0.21}_{-0.16})\%$, respectively, of the total branching fractions for the corresponding three-body $D$ decays. We find in this work that the normal subprocesses like $\rho(1450)^+\to \pi^+\pi^0$ or $\rho(1450)^+\to K^+\bar{K}^0$, which are bound by the masses of decaying initial states, will provide virtual contributions in some special decays.