Study of the decay phi--> f0(980)g --> pi+pi-g with the KLOE detector

Abstract

We measured, with the KLOE detector, the spectrum of pi+pi- invariant mass in a sample of 6.7 x 10^5 e+e- --> pi+pi-g events with the photon at large polar angle (theta_g>45^o) at a centre of mass energy sqrt(s) around the phi mass. We observe a clear contribution from the intermediate process phi --> f0(980)g. A sizeable effect is also observed in the distribution of the forward-backeard asymmetry. We use different theoretical models to fit the spectrum and we determine the f_0 mass and coupling constants to the phi, to pi+pi- and to KK.