Observation of $χ_{c1}$ decays into vector meson pairs $ϕϕ$, $ωω$, and $ωϕ$
Decays of $χ_{c1}$ to vector meson pairs $ϕϕ$, $ωω$ and $ωϕ$ are observed for the first time using $(106\pm4)\times 10^6$ $\psip$ events accumulated at the BESIII detector at the BEPCII $e^+e^-$ collider. The branching fractions are measured to be $(4.4\pm 0.3\pm 0.5)\times 10^{-4}$, $(6.0\pm 0.3\pm 0.7)\times 10^{-4}$, and $(2.2\pm 0.6\pm 0.2)\times 10^{-5}$, for $χ_{c1}\to ϕϕ$, $ωω$, and $ωϕ$, respectively. The observation of $χ_{c1}$ decays into a pair of vector mesons $ϕϕ$, $ωω$ and $ωϕ$ indicates that the hadron helicity selection rule is significantly violated in $χ_{cJ}$ decays. In addition, the measurement of $χ_{cJ}\to ωϕ$ gives the rate of doubly OZI-suppressed decay. Branching fractions for $χ_{c0}$ and $χ_{c2}$ decays into other vector meson pairs are also measured with improved precision.