Radiative $\phi$$-$meson decays and $\eta$-$\eta^\prime$ mixing: a QCD sum rule analysis

Abstract

The radiative transitions $\phi \to \eta \gamma$ and $\phi \to \eta^\prime \gamma$ are analysed using QCD sum-rules. The results we obtain for ${\cal B}(\phi \to \eta \gamma)=(1.15 \pm 0.2) 10^{-2}$ and ${\cal B}(\phi \to \eta^\prime \gamma)=(1.18 \pm 0.4) 10^{-4}$ are in very good agreement with existing experimental data. The related issue of $\eta-\eta^\prime$ mixing is discussed and we give predictions for the $\eta$ and $\eta^\prime$ decay constants in the framework of a mixing scheme in the quark-flavour basis.