Search for $h_c \to \pi^+\pi^-J/\psi$ via $\psi(3686)\to \pi^0h_c$

TL;DR

This study searches for the decay $h_c o \pi^+\pi^-J/\psi$ in $\psi(3686) o \\pi^0 h_c$ transitions using a large data sample, but finds no signal and sets new upper limits on the branching fractions.

Contribution

First to set the most stringent upper limits on the branching fractions of these specific charmonium decays.

Findings

No significant signal observed for the decay.

Upper limits on branching fractions are $6.7\times 10^{-7}$ and $9.4\times 10^{-4}$.

Provides constraints for theoretical models of charmonium transitions.

Abstract

Using $(2712.4 \pm 14.3) \times 10^6~\psi$(3686) events collected with the BESIII detector operating at the BEPCII collider, we search for the hadronic transition $h_c \to \pi^+\pi^-J/\psi$ via $\psi(3686)\to \pi^0 h_c$. No significant signal is observed. We set the most stringent upper limits to date on the branching fractions $\mathcal{B}(\psi(3686)\to \pi^0 h_c)\times\mathcal{B}(h_c\to\pi^+\pi^-J/\psi)$ and $\mathcal{B}(h_c \to \pi^+\pi^-J/\psi)$ at the 90$\%$ confidence level, which are determined to be $6.7\times 10^{-7}$ and $9.4 \times10^{-4}$, respectively.