Triangle singularities in $\bar{B}^0\to \chi_{c1}K^-\pi^+$ relevant to $Z_1(4050)$ and $Z_2(4250)$

Abstract

$Z_1(4050)$ and $Z_2(4250)$ observed in $\bar{B}^0\to\chi_{c1}K^-\pi^+$ by the Belle Collaboration are candidates of charged charmonium-like states that minimally includes two quarks and two antiquarks. While $Z_1(4050)$ and $Z_2(4250)$ have been interpreted as tetraquark states previously, we propose a completely different scenario based on a kinematical effect called the triangle singularity. We demonstrate that the triangle singularities cause in the $\chi_{c1}\pi^+$ invariant mass distribution resonance-like bumps that fit very well the Belle data. If these bumps are simulated by the $Z_1(4050)$ and $Z_2(4250)$ resonance excitations, the spin-parity of them are predicted to be $1^-$ for $Z_1(4050)$ and $1^+$ or $1^-$ for $Z_2(4250)$. The bump corresponding to $Z_1(4050)$ has a highly asymmetric shape, which the Belle data exactly indicate. We show that the asymmetric shape originates from an interplay between the triangle singularity and the opening of the $X(3872)\pi^+$ channel near the triangle-singularity energy. This characteristic lineshape could be used to discriminate different interpretations of $Z_1(4050)$. An interesting prediction from interpretting $Z_1(4050)$ and $Z_2(4250)$ as the triangle singularities is that similar bumps caused by the same mechanisms possibly appear also in $\bar{B}^0\to J/\psi K^-\pi^+$ data; the already observed $Z_c(4200)$ corresponds to $Z_2(4250)$ of $J^P=1^+$.