Probing the nature of the $\chi_{c1}(3872)$ state using radiative decays

Abstract

International audienceThe radiative decays $\chi_{c1}(3872)\rightarrow\psi(2S)\gamma$ and $\chi_{c1}(3872)\rightarrow J/\psi\gamma$ are used to probe the~nature of the~$\chi_{c1}(3872)$ state using proton-proton collision data collected with the LHCb detector, corresponding to an~integrated luminosity of~9fb$^{-1}$. Using the~$B^+\rightarrow \chi_{c1}(3872)K^+$decay, the $\chi_{c1}(3872)\rightarrow \psi(2S)\gamma$ process is observed for the first time and the ratio of its partial width to that of the $\chi_{c1}(3872)\rightarrow J/\psi\gamma$ decay is measured to be $$\frac{\Gamma_{\chi_{c1}(3872)\rightarrow \psi(2S)\gamma}} {\Gamma_{\chi_{c1}(3872)\rightarrow J/\psi\gamma}} = 1.67 \pm 0.21 \pm 0.12 \pm0.04 ,$$ where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic and the third is due to the uncertainties on the branching fractions of the $\psi(2S)$ and $J/\psi$ mesons. The measured ratio makes the interpretation of the $\chi_{c1}(3872)$ state as a~pure $D^0\bar{D}^{*0}+\bar{D}^0D^{*0}$ molecule questionable and strongly indicates a sizeable compact charmonium or tetraquark component within the $\chi_{c1}(3872)$ state