1203.6014 (Bhubanjyoti Bhattacharya et al.)

Flavor SU(3) tests from $D^0 \to K^0 K^- π^+$ and $D^0 \to \bar K^0
K^+ π^-$ Dalitz plots    [PDF]

Bhubanjyoti Bhattacharya, Jonathan L. Rosner

The processes $D^0 \to K^0 K^- \pi^+$ and $D^0\ to \bar K^0 K^+ \pi^-$ involve intermediate vector resonances whose amplitudes and phases are related to each other via flavor SU(3) symmetry. Dalitz plots for these two processes can shed light on the usefulness of flavor SU(3) symmetry in studying charm decays. Until recently the only available data on this process came from an unpublished conference report in 2002 by the BaBar Collaboration. More recently an independent data sample of slightly higher statistics has become available from the CLEO Collaboration. The goal is to predict Dalitz plot amplitudes and phases assuming flavor SU(3) symmetry and compare them with experiment. While an SU(3) fit is able to account for the relative magnitudes of the amplitudes for the decays $D^0 \to K^{*-}K^+$ and $D^0 \to K^{*+}K^-$, the current BaBar sample (based on an integrated luminosity of 22 fb$^{-1}$) provides only 1--$2 \sigma$ evidence for the decays $D^0\ to K^{*0} \bar K^0$ and $D^0 \to \bar K^{*0} K^0$. The CLEO collaboration, in an independent analysis, does not have significant evidence for these decays either. At this level one is unable to compare magnitudes and phases with theoretical predictions. An analysis using the full BaBar sample (more than 20 times the 2002 value) is advocated. It should definitively determine whether predicted magnitudes and phases agree with experiment.

View original: http://arxiv.org/abs/1203.6014