Measurement of the D[superscript *](2010)[superscript +] natural linewidth and the D[superscript *](2010)[superscript +] - D[superscript 0] mass difference

Abstract

We measure the mass difference, Δm[subscript 0], between the D[superscript *](2010)[superscript +] and the D[superscript 0] and the natural linewidth, Γ, of the transition D[superscript *](2010)[superscript +] → D[superscript 0]π[superscript +]. The data were recorded with the BABAR detector at center-of-mass energies at and near the Υ(4S) resonance, and correspond to an integrated luminosity of approximately 477 fb[superscript −1]. The D[superscript 0] is reconstructed in the decay modes D[superscript 0] → K[superscript −]π[superscript +] and D[superscript 0] → K[superscript −]π[superscript +]π[superscript −]π[superscript +]. For the decay mode D[superscript 0] → K[superscript −]π[superscript +] we obtain Γ = (83.4 ± 1.7 ± 1.5) keV and Δm[subscript 0] = (145425.6 ± 0.6 ± 1.8) keV, where the quoted errors are statistical and systematic, respectively. For the D[superscript 0] → K[superscript −]π[superscript +]π[superscript −]π[superscript +] mode we obtain Γ = (83.2 ± 1.5 ± 2.6) keV and Δm[subscript 0] = (145426.6 ± 0.5 ± 2.0) keV. The combined measurements yield Γ = (83.3 ± 1.2 ± 1.4) keV and Δm[subscript 0] = (145425.9 ± 0.4 ± 1.7) keV; the width is a factor of approximately 12 times more precise than the previous value, while the mass difference is a factor of approximately 6 times more precise.