Search for the decay χ c 1 ( 3872 ) → π + π − χ c 1
Using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 10.9 fb − 1 collected at center-of-mass energies from 4.16 to 4.34 GeV with the BESIII detector, we search for the decay χ c 1 ( 3872 ) → π + π − χ c 1 in the radiative production e + e − → γ χ c 1 ( 3872 ) . No significant signal is observed, and the ratio for the branching fraction of χ c 1 ( 3872 ) → π + π − χ c 1 to χ c 1 ( 3872 ) → π + π − J / ψ is measured as R ≡ B [ χ c 1 ( 3872 ) → π + π − χ c 1 ] B [ χ c 1 ( 3872 ) → π + π − J / ψ ] < 0.18 at 90% confidence level. An upper limit on the product of the cross section σ [ e + e − → γ χ c 1 ( 3872 ) ] and the branching fraction B [ χ c 1 ( 3872 ) → π + π − χ c 1 ] at each center-of-mass energy is also given. These measurements favor the nonconventional charmonium nature of the χ c 1 ( 3872 ) state. Published by the American Physical Society 2024