Helicity and partial wave amplitude analysis of D -> K^* \rho decay

TL;DR

This paper analyzes helicity and partial-wave amplitudes in D -> K^* rho decays using various models, highlighting hierarchy patterns, the impact of D-wave amplitudes on polarization, and questioning previous data interpretations.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of partial-wave hierarchies and polarization effects in D meson decays, and clarifies potential misidentifications in earlier literature.

Findings

Most models show |S| > |P| > |D| hierarchy

D-wave can significantly affect polarization (~30%)

Questions previous partial-wave amplitude identifications

Abstract

We have carried out an analysis of helicity and partial-wave amplitudes for the process D -> K^* \rho in the factorization approximation using several models for the form factors. All the models, with the exception of one, generate partial-wave amplitudes with the hierarchy $\mid S\mid >\mid P\mid >\mid D\mid$. The one exception gives $\mid S \mid >\mid D \mid >\mid P \mid$. Even though in most models the D-wave amplitude is an order of magnitude smaller than the S-wave amplitude, its effect on the longitudinal polarization could be as large as 30%. Due to a misidentification of the partial-wave amplitudes in terms of the Lorentz structures in the relevant literature, we cast doubt on the veracity of the listed data, particularly the partial-wave branching ratios. (PACS numbers: 13.25.-k, 13.25.Ft)