Study of the $ππ$ mass spectra in the process $e^+e^- \to π^+π^-π^0$ at $\sqrt[]{s} \simeq 1020$ MeV

Abstract

The invariant mass spectra of the $π^+π^-$ and $π^\pmπ^0$ pairs in the process $e^+e^- \to π^+π^-π^0$ were studied in the SND experiment at the VEPP-2M collider in the energy region $\sqrt[]{s} \simeq 1020$ MeV. These studies were based on about $0.5 \times 10^6$ experimental events. The spectra were analyzed in the framework of the vector meson dominance model. It was found that the experimental data can be described with $e^+e^- \to ρπ\to π^+π^-π^0$ transition only. Upper limit on the branching ratio of the $ϕ(1020)\toπ^+π^-π^0$ decay through intermediate states different from $ρπ$ was obtained at the 90 % confidence level: $B(ϕ\toπ^+π^-π^0)<6 \cdot 10^{-4}$. The $ρ$-meson mass and width which follow from the spectra analysis are $m_ρ=775.0\pm 1.3$ MeV, $Γ_ρ=150.4 \pm 3.0$ MeV. Neutral and charged $ρ$-mesons mass difference was found to equal $m_{ρ^\pm}-m_{ρ^0}=-1.3\pm2.3$ MeV. In the $π^+π^-$ mass spectrum the $ρ-ω$ interference was seen at two standard deviations level.