Measurement of Interfering K^*+K^- and K^*-K^+ Amplitudes in the Decay D^0 --> K^+K^-pi^0

TL;DR

This paper measures the interference effects in the decay D^0 to K^+ K^- pi^0, revealing a significant destructive interference between specific intermediate states using Dalitz plot analysis of data collected at 10.58 GeV.

Contribution

The study provides the first measurement of the strong phase difference and amplitude ratio for interfering K*+K^- and K*-K+ amplitudes in D^0 decay, using a Dalitz plot analysis.

Findings

Strong phase difference delta_D = 332° ± 8° ± 11°

Amplitude ratio r_D = 0.52 ± 0.05 ± 0.04

Evidence of destructive interference in the decay region

Abstract

We have studied the Cabibbo-suppressed decay mode D^0 into K^+ K^- pi^0 using a Dalitz plot technique and find the strong phase difference delta_D [defined as delta_(K*^- K^+) - delta_(K*^+ K^-)] = 332 degrees +- 8 degrees +- 11 degrees and relative amplitude r_D [defined as a_(K*^- K^+) / a_(K*^+ K^-)] = 0.52 +- 0.05 +- 0.04. This measurement indicates significant destructive interference between D^0 into K^+ (K^- pi^0)_K*^- and D^0 into K^- (K^+ pi^0)_K*^+ in the Dalitz plot region where these two modes overlap. This analysis uses 9.0 fb^(-1) of data collected at s^(1/2) of approximately 10.58 GeV with the CLEO III detector.