Radiative decays of the $h_c$ meson from lattice QCD

Abstract

We explore, for the first time in lattice QCD, the radiative decays to $γη$ and $γη'$ of the $J^{PC}=1^{+-}$ charmonium state, $h_c$. This work expands upon a previous calculation of $J/ψ$ decays to the same final states, incorporating novel technology to access the $h_c$ where it is an excited state and to separate the independent electric dipole and longitudinal form--factors. Results for the radiative decay rates, computed on three-flavor lattices with $m_π\sim $ 391 MeV show a suppression relative to experiment that is similar to that observed in the prior calculation of $J/ψ\to γη^{(\prime)}$. The timelike $Q^2$ dependence of both form--factors together influence the Dalitz decays, $h_c \to \ell^+ \ell^- η^{(\prime)}$, which are as yet unmeasured experimentally.