Chiral dynamics predictions for eta' -> eta pi pi

Abstract

The hadronic decays eta' -> eta pi pi are studied in the frameworks of large-Nc Chiral Perturbation Theory, at lowest and next-to-leading orders, and Resonance Chiral Theory in the leading 1/Nc approximation. Higher order effects such as pi-pi final state interactions are taken into account through a detailed unitarization procedure. The inclusion of finite-width effects in the case of RChT is also discussed. The Dalitz plot distribution and the differential branching ratio are computed in both approaches. The predicted Dalitz plot parameters obtained from the different treatments are compared with the most recent measured values. We find that the eta' -> eta pi pi branching ratios are easily understood, while the Dalitz plot parameters require the inclusion of pi-pi loops in order to achieve a reasonable agreement. Our final predictions agree with the experimental measurements. We hope our results to be of relevance for present and future experimental analyses of these decays.