On the branching ratio of the "second class" tau --> eta' pi nu_tau decay

Abstract

We present an assessment of the standard model expectations for the branching ratio of the isotopic spin and G-parity violating decay tau --> eta' pi nu_tau. The estimate is based on a vector and scalar meson dominance parametrization of the relevant form factors, that explicitly accounts for pi^0-eta-eta' mixing. The numerical results obtained in this framework indicate a branching ratio one order of magnitude (or more) below the current experimental limit, and suggest the possibility of evidencing some novel interaction in high statistics studies of this decay.