Multi-Meson Model applied to $D^+ \to K^+ K^- K^+$

Abstract

Matrix elements of weak currents involving light multi-meson states are important in many hadronic decays of both heavy leptons and heavy mesons. In this paper we focus on the latter case where the current size of the data set demands better models. The specific case of three-kaon weak matrix elements is considered and expressed as a relatively simple structure, which generalizes naturally the concept of form factor. We propose a model for the decay $D^+ \to K^+ K^- K^+$ as an alternative to isobar model, with free parameter predicted by the theory to be fine-tuned by a fit to data. An important qualitative outcome is that we encompass naturally all final states topologies, which involve necessarily proper multi-particle structures and cannot be decomposed into simpler two-body processes. This aspect represents a significant improvement when compared to isobar model, often employed in analyses of heavy-meson decay data.