Measurement of the τ−→ηπ−π+π−ντ branching fraction and a search for a second-class current in the τ−→η′(958)π−ντ decay

Abstract

The τ − → η π − π + π − ν τ decay with the η → γ γ mode is studied using 384 fb − 1 of data collected by the BABAR detector. The branching fraction is measured to be ( 1.60 ± 0.05 ± 0.11 ) × 10 − 4 . It is found that τ − → f 1 ( 1285 ) π − ν τ → η π − π + π − ν τ is the dominant decay mode with a branching fraction of ( 1.11 ± 0.06 ± 0.05 ) × 10 − 4 . The first error on the branching fractions is statistical and the second systematic. Note that no particle identification algorithm is applied to the charged tracks to distinguish pions from kaons. In addition, a 90% confidence level upper limit on the branching fraction of the τ − → η ′ ( 958 ) π − ν τ decay is measured to be 7.2 × 10 − 6 . This last decay proceeds through a second-class current and is expected to be forbidden in the limit of isospin symmetry.