Search for new hadronic decays of h(c) and observation of h(c) -> K+K- pi(+)pi(-)pi(0)

Abstract

Ten hadronic final states of the h(c) decays are investigated via the process psi(3686) -> pi(0)h(c), using a data sample of (448.1 +/- 2.9) x 10(6) psi(3686) events collected with the BESIII detector. The decay channel h(c) -> K+K- pi(+)pi(-)pi(0) is observed for the first time and has a measured significance of 6.0 sigma. The corresponding branching fraction is determined to be B(h(c) -> K+K- pi(+)pi(-)pi(0)) = (3.3 +/- 0.6 +/- 0.6) x 10(-3) (where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively). Evidence for the decays h(c )-> pi(+)pi(-)pi(0)eta and h(c) ->(KSK +/-)-K-0 pi(-/+)pi(+)pi(-) is found with a significance of 3.6 sigma and 3.8 sigma, respectively. The corresponding branching fractions (and upper limits) are obtained to be B(h(c) -> pi(+)pi(-)pi(0)eta) = (7.2 +/- 1.8 +/- 1.3) x 10(-3) (<1.8 x 10(-2)) and B(h(c )-> (KSK +/-)-K-0 pi(-/+)pi(+)pi(-)) = (2.8 +/- 0.9 +/- 0.5) x 10(-3) (<4.7 x 10 (-3) ). Upper limits on the branching fractions for the final states h(c )-> K+K-pi(0), K+K-eta, K+K-pi(+)pi(-)eta, 2(K+K- )pi(0), K+K-pi(0)eta, (KSK +/-)-K-0 pi(-/+), and p (p) over bar pi(0)pi(0) are determined at a confidence level of 90%.