Measurement of cross sections of $e^+e^-\to K^0_S K^0_S ψ(3686)$ from $\sqrt{s}=$ 4.682 to 4.951 GeV

Abstract

The process $e^+e^-\to K^0_S K^0_S ψ(3686)$ is studied by analyzing $e^+e^-$ collision data samples collected at eight center-of-mass energies ranging from 4.682 to 4.951 GeV with the BESIII detector operating at the BEPCII collider, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $4.1~{\rm fb}^{-1}$. Observation of the $e^+e^-\to K^0_S K^0_S ψ(3686)$ process is found for the first time with a statistical significance of $6.3σ$, and the cross sections at each center-of-mass energy are measured. The ratio of cross sections of $e^+e^-\to K_S^0 K_S^0 ψ(3686)$ relative to $e^+e^-\to K^+ K^- ψ(3686)$ is determined to be $\frac{σ(e^+e^-\to K_S^0 K_S^0 ψ(3686))}{σ(e^+e^-\to K^+ K^- ψ(3686))}=0.45 \pm 0.25$, which is consistent with the prediction based on isospin symmetry. The uncertainty includes both statistical and systematic contributions. Additionally, the $K_S^0ψ(3686)$ invariant mass distribution is found to be consistent with three-body phase space. The significance of a contribution beyond three-body phase space is only $0.8σ$.