Survival before annihilation in Psi-prime decays

Abstract

We extend the simple scenario for $Ψ'$ decays suggested a few years ago. The $c\bar c$ pair in the $Ψ'$ does not annihilate directly into three gluons but rather survives before annihilating. An interesting prediction is that a large fraction of all $Ψ'$ decays could originate from the $Ψ' \to η_{c} (3π)$ channel which we urge experimentalists to identify. Our model solves the problem of the apparent hadronic excess in $Ψ'$ decays as well as the $ρπ$ puzzle since, in our view, the two-body decays of the $Ψ'$ are naturally of electromagnetic origin. Further tests of this picture are proposed, e.g. $J/Ψ\to b_{1}η$.