Roles of $a_0(980)$ and $a_0(1710)$ in Cabibbo-suppressed process $D^+\to π^0π^+η$
Motivated by the BESIII amplitude analysis of the single Cabibbo-suppressed process $D^+\to π^0π^+η$, we investigate this reaction by taking into account the contributions from the $a_0(980)$, $ρ$, and $a_0(1710)$, where the scalar meson $a_0(980)$ could be dynamically generated from the $S$-wave pseudoscalar meson-pseudoscalar meson interaction within the chiral unitary approach. Our theoretical predictions for the $π^0η$, $π^+η$, and $π^+π^0$ invariant mass distributions are in agreement with the BESIII measurements, especially the clear peaks around 1~GeV in the $π^0η$ and $π^+η$ invariant mass distributions could be associated with the dynamically generated state $a_0(980)$. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the intermediate $a_0(1710)$ is also necessary to describe the enhancement structure around $1.6\sim 1.7$~GeV in the $π^{0/+}η$ invariant mass distribution. More precise experimental measurements of this process could provide deeper insights into the nature of the scalar mesons $a_0(980)$ and $a_0(1710)$.