Measurement of $\eta\to\pi^{0}\gamma\gamma$ branching fraction with the KLOE detector

TL;DR

This paper reports a precise measurement of the rare decay $ ext{eta} o ext{pi}^0 ext{gamma} ext{gamma}$ branching fraction using the KLOE detector, finding a value smaller than the world average and providing differential decay data.

Contribution

First measurement of the $ ext{eta} o ext{pi}^0 ext{gamma} ext{gamma}$ branching fraction with the KLOE detector, using a large data sample and normalizing to a known decay for improved accuracy.

Findings

Branching fraction measured as (0.98 ± 0.11_stat ± 0.14_syst) × 10^{-4}

Result is twice smaller than the current world average

Differential decay distribution compared with theoretical models

Abstract

We present a measurement of the radiative decay $\eta\to\pi^0\gamma\gamma$ using 82 million $\eta$ mesons produced in $e^+e^-\to\phi\to\eta\gamma$ process at the Frascati $\phi$-factory DA$\Phi$NE. From the data analysis $1246\pm133$ signal events are observed. By normalising the signal to the well-known $\eta\to3\pi^0$ decay the branching fraction ${\cal B}(\eta\to\pi^0\gamma\gamma)$ is measured to be $(0.98\pm 0.11_\text{stat}\pm 0.14_\text{syst})\times10^{-4}$. This result agrees with a preliminary KLOE measurement, but is twice smaller than the present world average. Results for $d\Gamma(\eta\to\pi^0\gamma\gamma)/dM^2(\gamma\gamma)$ are also presented and compared with latest theory predictions.