Channel coupling in e+ e- annihilation into heavy meson pairs at the D* {\bar D}* threshold

Abstract

A threshold singularity in a heavier meson channel, e.g. $D^* {\bar D}^*$, generally reflects in the amplitudes of $e^+e^-$ annihilation into lighter meson pairs, such as $D^* {\bar D}$, $D {\bar D}$, and $D_s {\bar D}_s$, due to the channel coupling. The behavior of the cross section of the $e^+e^-$ annihilation into each channel in this situation is considered using general properties of the amplitudes near the new threshold. It is argued that the effects of the channel coupling can be quite significant in the observable cross section, in particular near the $D^* {\bar D}^*$ threshold.