Search for $J/\psi$ weak decays containing $D$ meson

TL;DR

This study searches for rare weak decay modes of the $J/\psi$ particle involving $D$ mesons using a large dataset, but finds no significant signals and sets upper limits on their branching fractions.

Contribution

First search for specific $J/\psi$ weak decays involving $D$ mesons with the BESIII detector, establishing upper limits on their branching fractions.

Findings

No significant signals observed for the decay modes.

Upper limits on branching fractions are set at the 90% confidence level.

Results constrain theoretical models of $J/\psi$ weak decays.

Abstract

Using a sample of about 10 billion $J/\psi$ events with the BESIII detector, we search for the weak decays of $J/\psi \to \bar{D}^0\pi^0 + c.c.$, $J/\psi \to \bar{D}^0\eta + c.c.$, $J/\psi \to \bar{D}^0\rho^0 + c.c.$, $J/\psi \to D^-\pi^+ + c.c.$, and $J/\psi \to D^-\rho^+ + c.c.$. Since no significant signal is observed, we set the upper limits of the branching fractions of these decays to be $\mathcal{B}(J/\psi \to \bar{D}^0\pi^0 + c.c.) < 4.7 \times 10^{-7}$, $\mathcal{B}(J/\psi \to \bar{D}^0\eta + c.c.) < 6.8 \times 10^{-7}$, $\mathcal{B}(J/\psi \to \bar{D}^0\rho^0 + c.c.) < 5.2 \times 10^{-7}$, $\mathcal{B}(J/\psi \to D^-\pi^+ + c.c.) < 7.0 \times 10^{-8}$, and $\mathcal{B}(J/\psi \to D^-\rho^+ + c.c.) < 6.0 \times 10^{-7}$ at the 90\% confidence level.