Search for $D^0\to\gamma\gamma$ and improved measurement of the branching fraction for $D^0 \to \pi^0\pi^0$

Abstract

Using $2.92$ fb$^{-1}$ of electron-positron annihilation data collected at $\sqrt{s} = 3.773$~GeV with the BESIII detector, we report the results of a search for the flavor-changing neutral current process $D^0\to\gamma\gamma$ using a double-tag technique. We find no signal and set an upper limit at $90\%$ confidence level for the branching fraction of $B(D^0\to\gamma\gamma) < 3.8\times10^{-6}$. We also investigate $D^0$-meson decay into two neutral pions, obtaining a branching fraction of $B(D^0\to\pi^0\pi^0) = (8.24\pm0.21(\text{stat.})\pm0.30(\text{syst.}))\times10^{-4}$, the most precise measurement to date and consistent with the current world average