First Observation of $D^{0(+)}\to \bar K\omega e^+\nu_e$ and Determination of the Branching Fraction of $\bar K_1(1270)\to \bar K \omega$

Abstract

Using 20.3~fb$^{-1}$ of $e^+e^-$ annihilation data collected at a center-of-mass energy of 3.773~GeV with the BESIII detector, we report the first observation of the semileptonic decays \mbox{$D^0\to K^-\omega e^+\nu_e$} and \mbox{$D^+\to K_S^0\omega e^+\nu_e$} with significances of $8.0\sigma$ and $5.8\sigma$, respectively. Their decay branching fractions are measured to be ${\cal B}(D^0\to K^-\omega e^+\nu_e)=(9.4^{+2.0}_{-1.8}\pm 0.6)\times10^{-5}$ and ${\cal B}(D^+\to K_S^0\omega e^+\nu_e)=(8.0^{+2.4}_{-2.1}\pm 0.7)\times10^{-5}$. Combining these with the latest measurements of $D^{0(+)}\to K^-\pi^+\pi^{-(0)} e^+\nu_e$ and assuming $\bar{K}_1(1270)$ to be the sole mediating resonance in all processes, the branching ratios are determined to be $\frac{\Gamma(K_1(1270)^-\to K^-\pi^+\pi^-)}{\Gamma(K_1(1270)^-\to K^-\omega)} = 3.4^{+0.8}_{-0.7} \pm 0.3$ and $\frac{\Gamma(\bar{K}_1(1270)^0\to K^-\pi^+\pi^0)}{\Gamma(\bar{K}_1(1270)^0\to \bar{K}^0\omega)} = 7.9^{+2.4}_{-2.1} \pm 0.7$. The combined branching fraction is determined to be $\mathcal B(\bar{K}_1(1270)\to \bar{K}\omega) = (8.4\pm 1.4 \pm 0.5)\%$, which is the most precise measurement from a collider experiment. Furthermore, %based on the $\bar{K}\pi^+\pi^-\pi^0$ invariant mass spectra, for the first time based on a single vector-pseudoscalar decay channel, the $\bar{K}_1(1270)$ mass is measured to be $(1336 \pm 9 \pm 2)$~MeV/$c^2$, providing unique experimental support for the two-pole structure of the $\bar{K}_1(1270)$ resonance. The first uncertainties are statistical, and the second are systematic.