Searching for a $D \bar D$ bound state with the $ψ(3770) \to γD^0 \bar D^0$ decay

Abstract

We perform a calculation of the mass distribution in the $ψ(3770) \to γD \bar D$ decay, studying both the $D^+ D^- $ and $D^0 \bar D^0 $ decays. The electromagnetic interaction is such that the tree level amplitude is null for the neutral channel, which leaves the $ψ(3770) \to γD^0 \bar D^0$ proceeding through a loop involving the $D^+ D^- \to D^0 \bar D^0$ scattering amplitude. We use the results for this amplitude of a theoretical model that predicts a $D \bar D$ bound state and find a $D^0 \bar D^0 $ mass distribution in the decay drastically different than phase space. The rates obtained are relatively large and the experiment is easily feasible in the present BESIII facility. The performance of this experiment could provide an answer to the issue of this much searched for state, which is the analogue of the $f_0(980)$ resonance.