First Observation of $\tau \to 3\pi \eta {\nu }_{\tau }$ and $\tau \to f_1\pi {\nu }_{\tau }$ Decays

Abstract

We have observed new channels for $\tau$ decays with an $\eta$ in the final state. We study 3-prong tau decays, using the $\eta \to \gamma \gamma$ and $η\to 3\piz$ decay modes and 1-prong decays with two $\piz$'s using the $\eta \to \gamma \gamma$ channel. The measured branching fractions are $\B(τ^{-}\to π^{-}π^{-}π^{+}ην_τ) =(3.4^{+0.6}_{-0.5}\pm0.6)\times10^{-4}$ and $\B(τ^{-}\to π^{-}2\pizην_τ =(1.4\pm0.6\pm0.3)\times10^{-4}$. We observe clear evidence for $f_1\to \eta \pi \pi$ substructure and measure $\B(τ^{-}\to f_1π^{-}ν_τ)=(5.8^{+1.4}_{-1.3}\pm1.8)\times10^{-4}$. We have also searched for ${\eta }^{\prime }(958)$ production and obtain 90% CL upper limits $\B(τ^{-}\to π^{-}η'ν_τ)<7.4\times10^{-5}$ and $\B(τ^{-}\to π^{-}\pizη'ν_τ)<8.0\times10^{-5}$.

11 page postscript file, postscript file also available through http://w4.lns.cornell.edu/public/CLNS