Why does ψ'' have a lower leptonic branching ratio compared to ψ' and J/ψ?

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In summary, The question is about the difference in leptonic branching ratio between charmonium states ψ'', ψ', and J/ψ. The reason for this is the OZI suppression, which prevents any charmonium state from annihilating via the strong force to another quark antiquark pair. However, the heavier ψ'' can decay rapidly into D mesons, while the lighter ones cannot. This is because the ψ'' is the first charmonium state above the open charm threshold, making it more convenient to decay into two D mesons by splitting the two pre-existing charm quarks.
  • #1
Ichimaru
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I'm looking at charmonium and its decays. Given a list of data on the charmonium states I'm asked to say why ψ'' has a leptonic branching ratio a thousand times small than ψ' and J/ψ.

From my understanding this is due to OZI suppression. But I'm having a hard time understanding it intuitively. Why can't any charmonium state annihilate via the strong force to another quark antiquark pair? What is the decay available to the ψ'' that isn't available to ψ' and J/ψ?

Thanks!
 
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  • #2
Isn't it just that the heavier ##\psi(3770)## is heavy enough it can decay rapidly into D mesons that carry away the charm, the lighter ones can't.

See http://pdg8.lbl.gov/rpp2013v2/pdgLive/Particle.action?node=M053
 
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  • #3
Yes, the right answer is that one. The ψ'' is the first charmonium above the open charm threshold and therefore it's much more convenient for it to decay into two D mesons, basically just splitting the two pre-existing charm quarks.
 

1. What is Charmonium?

Charmonium is a bound state of a charm quark and its antiquark, which are fundamental particles that make up matter. It is a type of exotic meson and is often referred to as a "charm meson".

2. How does Charmonium decay?

Charmonium decays through the weak nuclear force, which is responsible for the transformation of particles. Specifically, it decays into other particles that are lighter and more stable, such as pions and kaons.

3. What are the different types of Charmonium?

There are several types of Charmonium, including J/psi, psi, and chi. These are distinguished by the different quantum numbers, which describe the properties of the particles, such as their spin and angular momentum.

4. Why do scientists study Charmonium and its decays?

Charmonium and its decays provide valuable insights into the strong nuclear force and the behavior of quarks, which are still not fully understood. Studying these processes can also help us better understand the structure of matter and the fundamental forces that govern our universe.

5. How is Charmonium produced in experiments?

Charmonium can be produced in particle accelerators, where high-energy collisions of protons or other particles can create new particles, including exotic mesons like Charmonium. These experiments provide a controlled environment for studying the properties and decays of Charmonium.

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